3 things you missed in government this week
Budget reconciliation, appropriations, fluoridation regulations
“Three Things You Missed in Government This Week” is designed to offer a way to stay informed on the topics of the week. These updates are meant to offer brief details on legislative or regulatory topics to keep dentists engaged and up to date. To explore the ADA’s latest advocacy efforts, more information is available at ADA.org/Advocacy.
1. The ADA is outlining President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill’s impact on dentists, dental practices and dental students through provisions relating to tax policy, state Medicaid programs and student loans. In a three-page document, the Association said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Trump signed into law July 4, contains several measures “with a direct impact” on the profession and the future dental workforce.
2. The Senate appropriations committee approved the fiscal year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill by a vote of 26-3, allocating $197 billion in discretionary funding. The Senate measure rejects President Donald Trump’s proposals to make deep cuts to programs and agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services and rejects his proposal to consolidate National Institutes of Health institutes. The bipartisan legislation now heads to the Senate floor and will ultimately need to be reconciled with funding efforts in the House, which are expected to resume after the August recess.
3. The ADA and several other dental groups have expressed support for a bill that seeks to strengthen the scientific basis behind federal water fluoridation regulations. The coalition sent a letter in support of the Protect Our Treatment for Enamel, Erosion and Tooth Health Act, also known as the Protect Our TEETH Act. The legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency to commission an independent review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine before proposing updates to drinking water regulations that affect community water fluoridation.
