Promoting Dental Health Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4008
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S887)
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T19:36:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Promoting Dental Health Act (S. 4008) aims to extend federal support for programs that promote oral health and prevent oral diseases, ensuring continued funding for public health initiatives focused on dental care awareness, education, and prevention.
Key Provisions
- Reauthorization of Programs: Updates Section 317M of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-14), which authorizes grants and activities by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for oral health promotion, including surveillance, education, and community-based prevention efforts.
- Extended Funding Periods:
- Subsection (d)(2): Authorizes appropriations for grants to states and other entities from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (previously 2010 through 2014).
- Subsection (f): Authorizes appropriations for national oral healthcare surveillance activities from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (previously 2001 through 2005).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill does not introduce new programs or substantive policies but simply updates the expiration dates for existing authorizations of appropriations under the Public Health Service Act.
- It replaces outdated fiscal year ranges (from over a decade ago) with new ones starting in 2027, effectively renewing funding eligibility without altering program structures, eligibility criteria, or operational details.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Allows the HHS, particularly the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to maintain and potentially expand oral health surveillance and grant programs without interruption, supporting data collection and state-level initiatives.
- On Citizens: Improves access to preventive dental education and services, especially for underserved populations, by sustaining federal funding for community programs that address disparities in oral health.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic public health programs with no provisions for international cooperation or aid.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal and State Governments: HHS and state health departments, which receive and administer grants for oral health activities.
- Healthcare Providers and Organizations: Dental professionals, public health clinics, and nonprofits involved in prevention and education efforts.
- General Public: Particularly low-income individuals, children, and rural communities who benefit from targeted oral disease prevention and awareness programs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens continuity in public health funding under the Public Health Service Act, avoiding lapses that could hinder ongoing initiatives; no challenges to constitutional authority, as it falls within Congress's spending power for public welfare.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the federal government's role in promoting general welfare (Article I, Section 8), without infringing on state powers over health regulation.
- Political: Represents a bipartisan extension of health policy priorities, potentially facilitating future expansions in oral health equity; however, actual funding levels depend on annual appropriations bills, not guaranteed by this reauthorization.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-05: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S887)
- 2026-03-05: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Promoting Dental Health Act — issued 2026-03-05 — PDF (2 pages)