AGD Capitol Connections

Join us November 21 - 22, 2025 for a free, two half-day virtual event designed to keep you informed on the latest legislative and regulatory developments impacting general dentistry and gain valuable insights into current and emerging issues that could affect your practice.

The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act (CHIRA), enacted in January 2021 with overwhelming bipartisan support, marked a major victory for consumer protection. The law repealed a long-standing exemption under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which had allowed dental insurance companies to operate unregulated by federal antitrust laws.

On October 22, 2025, the Senate held its twelfth vote on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current government funding levels through November 21.

On September 30, 2025, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Health Care Workforce Expansion Act, which seeks to address shortages in the health care workforce, including dentistry.

The government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, continues as Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse over federal funding. On October 9, 2025, the Senate failed for the seventh time to advance legislation to end the shutdown.

On September 19, 2025, President Trump issued a proclamation entitled, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers, introducing significant changes to the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. Under the proclamation, all H-1B petitions submitted after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on September 21, 2025, must include a payment of $100,000.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced it will host a workshop entitled, Moving Forward: Protecting Workers from Anticompetitive Noncompete Agreements. The workshop, hosted by FTC’s Labor Task Force, will feature remarks from FTC Commissioners, as well as discussions with policy experts, economists, advocates, and individuals affected by noncompete agreements.

The federal government is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) passed in March 2025 that funds the government through September 30, 2025. Unless Congress passes an annual appropriations act or an interim continuing resolution by that date, the government will shut down on October 1.

On September 9, 2025, HHS released its Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, outlining over 120 initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of childhood chronic diseases.

On September 9, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee advanced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill provides a total of $108 billion in discretionary funding for HHS, approximately six percent below the FY 2025 enacted level, and proposes a $456 million reduction in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

On August 27, 2025, Dr. Susan Monarez was dismissed from her role as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director by the White House. Her termination came less than a month after her confirmation by the Senate and was reportedly triggered by her refusal to implement directives that she and her attorneys described as “unscientific” and “reckless.”

As Congress reconvenes this week following its August recess, lawmakers face critical deadlines, including the need to fund the federal government beyond September 30 in order to avoid a government shutdown.

Brownie tiramisu donut cotton candy carrot cake dessert. Cookie brownie danish jelly beans pudding marshmallow chocolate cake lollipop tiramisu. Sesame snaps sesame snaps dessert chocolate bar dragée.

Tart liquorice sugar plum caramels wafer sugar plum danish caramels. Dessert bear claw pie chocolate bar jelly tootsie roll gummi bears sweet roll sweet. Pastry sugar plum chocolate chocolate bar chocolate.

On July 21, 2025, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05), alongside Representatives Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Don Davis (D-NC), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), introduced the Protect Our Treatment for Enamel, Erosion, and Tooth Health (TEETH) Act.

On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations held a full committee markup of the FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which includes significant investments in public health, education, and workforce development.

On August 5th and 6th Legislative and Governmental Affairs Chair Dr. Richard Huot and AGD Manager, Government Relations, Jay Fisher spoke with state legislators from around the country at the annual NCSL Summit in Boston.

On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Dr. Susan Monarez, was sworn in by Secretary Kennedy. The Senate confirmed her nomination on July 29, 2025, by a vote of 51-47.

On July 23, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Reagan-Udall Foundation, held a meeting to consider the clinical use and safety concerns associated with orally ingestible unapproved prescription drug products containing fluoride for the pediatric population.

On July 22, 2025, the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means, Health and Oversight Subcommittees held a joint hearing entitled, Medicare Advantage: Past Lessons, Present Insights, Future Opportunities.