CHICAGO--The Academy of General Dentistry welcomes the 110th Congress to Washington, D.C., and remains committed to working with legislators on the top legislative issues and concerns of general dentists nationwide.
"AGD members are going to be very proactive this year in lobbying for certain patient-related issues both in terms in in-person Hill visits and our grassroots letter-writing," stated Bruce DeGinder, DDS, MAGD, AGD President.
Among the issues of most concern is funding for Title VII Health Professions programs and access to oral health care. "We also are encouraging all Members of Congress to join the reinstituted Congressional Oral Health Caucus," DeGinder added.
Attached are several fact sheets of major concern to general dentists. Funding for the important Title VII Health Professions program, which has been very successful in the past in providing oral health care services to residents in medically underserved areas, must be brought back to fiscal year 2005 levels.
Without these programs in place, tens of thousands of Americans, including children, will have to forego preventative oral health-care exams and follow-up visits.
"Not only are we welcoming back returning Members of Congress," said Janet
Kopenhaver, AGD's Washington Lobbyist, "but we are eagerly looking forward
to meeting the new Members and discussing the AGD Legislative Agenda with
them."
The AGD is planning an active lobbying campaign this year, including a
Washington Advocacy Conference in June that includes visits on Capitol Hill.
AGD will also be issuing its legislative agenda for the 110th Congress soon, delivering the agenda to every legislative office later this month.
Included will be updated employment statistics broken out by congressional
district that depicts the economic contribution the dentistry profession makes to that district and state.
