A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a grant program for addressing dental workforce needs.
Key claim: S5099 would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize a federal grant program addressing dental workforce needs.
Abstract
(S5099 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-07-23): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Why this matters
Dental workforce shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas, are addressed federally through HRSA grant programs authorized under the Public Health Service Act. Reauthorization determines whether training institutions and safety-net providers can continue to rely on this funding stream for dental faculty, residency, and workforce development activities. For students and institutions, continuity of these grants affects the pipeline of dentists trained to serve shortage areas.