Advocacy

Supporting the Oral Health of Our Community

The Academy of General Dentistry works to ensure that general dentists can speak up when it matters most. That means making participation easy so that our members can unite their voices on legislative and regulatory activities affecting their practice. As a member, you can access the information and tools to quickly and conveniently impact legislative activities that are underway.

We need our members to get involved and make sure that legislators in our states and on Capitol Hill understand the issues affecting oral health, dentistry and issues affecting general dentists and their patients. 

Watch for regular updates as well as the latest news on more urgent issues that need your assistance by contacting legislators. 

Read the latest issue of AGD Capitol Connections

2021 Activities

Dr. Cassis Congressional Testimony on Oral Health Literacy 10.20.21

AGD leads organized dentistry effort urging Congress to support Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act 10.20.21

AGD joins members of organized dentistry to support POST Grad Act 9.28.21 

AGD sends letter to Congress opposing dental benefits in Medicare 9.7.2021 

Dental Coalition Letter regarding Medicare Part B Dental Expansion Issues 9.1.2021

AGD joins members of organized dentistry to support H.R. 1550 8.25.2021 

AGD comments on OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). 8.20.21

AGD Letter - PREVENT HPV Cancers Act - HR1550 -117

AGD joins members of organized dentistry to support S. 449 7.30.21

AGD joins members of organized dentistry to support H.R. 1285 7.30.21

AGD supports Bill H.R.4555, the Oral Health Literacy bill which supports oral disease prevention education through a 5-year oral health literacy campaign 7.21.21

AGD supports thank you letter regarding Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act” (HR 4122) 6.28.21

AGD led effort with ODC to introduce Foster Youth Dental Act (H.R.1794) 6.28.21 

AGD supports Bill H.R.2295, the HIV Epidemic Loan-Repayment Program (HELP) Act 6.9.21 

AGD sends letter supporting RAISE Health Benefits Act to bill sponsors 5.10.21 

AGD Joins Final Community Letter Urging the Release of 2020 Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health 5.6.21

AGD Joins Coalition to Urge President Biden to Support Healthy Workplace Tax Credit 5.5.21  

AGD joins coalition to support Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act 04.04.21

AGD welcomes incoming Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine 3.30.21

AGD sends letter to support Foster Youth Dental Act H.R.1794 3.25.21

AGD welcomes incoming Surgeon General Dr. Murthy 3.24.21

AGD joins organized dentistry in thanking ELSA bill sponsors 03.23.21

AGD sends letter to sponsors of ELSA in support of legislation 3.18.21

AGD sends letter to support Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act HR1944 3.18.21

AGD supports OSH Senate letter to increased funding 3.17.21

AGD supports OSH House letter to increased funding 3.17.21

AGD sends letter to CDC, NIAID, and White House on inhalation exposure. 3.12.21

AGD thanks Senators Portman and Sinema for introducing the Healthy Workplaces Tax Credit Act 3.5.21

AGD joins coalition urging Congress to pass Covid liability protections 2.01.21

AGD Welcomes Incoming CDC Director Dr. Walensky 1.22.21

AGD urges Biden administration to allow COVID-19 Vaccine be administered by dentists 1.21.21

2020 Activities

AGD joins coalition to ask CDC for clarification on vaccine prioritization. 12.16.20

AGD joins letter to Congress urging support for 501(c)(6) associations 12.5.20

AGD Sends Clean-Start-Coalition letter to President-Elect Biden. 12.2.20

AGD urges Congress to prioritize oral health in next COVID Package. 11.18.20

AGD lends support for the Dental and Optometric (DOC) Access Act (S.4894). 11.17.20

AGD requests House and Senate to include report language in appropriations bill. 11.17.20

AGD signs on with medical/dental coalition to support HR 1379, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA). 10.15.20

AGD joins Organized Dentistry Coalition to support Transparency in Dental Benefits Contracting model act. 9.22.20

AGD signs on with coalition to expand authorization for dental professionals to administer COVID-19 vaccine. 9.22.20

AGD responds to Request for Information regarding HPSA Scoring Criteria. 9.18.20

AGD sends letter to sponsors of the Small Business Comeback Act endorsing the legislation. 9.8.20

Dr. White sends letter to National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine on equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution. 9.4.20

AGD asks Rep. Babin to press CDC on N95 mask alternatives. 9.2.20

AGD asks Rep. Ferguson to press CDC on N95 mask alternatives. 9.2.20

AGD asks Rep. Gosar to press CDC on N95 mask alternatives. 9.2.20

AGD asks Rep. Simpson to press CDC on N95 mask alternatives. 9.2.20

AGD asks Rep. Van Drew to press CDC on N95 mask alternatives. 9.2.20

Dr. White sends letter to CDC advocating for return to May 2020 guidance on N95 masks. 8.27.20

AGD sends letter supporting community water fluoridation to the City of Madison Water Utility Board. 8.25.20

AGD corresponds with OSAP about future infection control guidance. 8.13.20

AGD gives FEMA data on general dentists' PPE needs. 8.13.20

AGD sends letter to members of Congress supporting H.R. 7819, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act. 8.13.20

AGD joins coalition in letter to Administration to support tax credit to offset increased infection control expenses. 8.6.20

AGD joins coalition in letter to Congress to support tax credit to offset increased infection control expenses. 8.6.20

AGD joins coalition on letter to advocate for tax changes on PPP loan forgiveness. 8.4.20

AGD stands with America’s Recovery Fund Coalition to endorse the Small Business Comeback Act. 7.28.20

AGD signs onto Organized Dentistry Coalition letter with priorities for next COVID-19 legislative package. 7.17.20

Dr. White signs letter of support for H.R. 7216, the Small Business PPE Tax Credit Act. 7.8.20

AGD joins coalition in letter to Congress supporting S. 3612, the Small Business Expense Protection Act. 7.1.20

AGD joins Organized Dentistry Coalition to support HR 7216, small business PPE tax credit. 7.1.20

AGD urges Congressional appropriators to support federal oral health programs. 6.15.20

AGD sends letter to OSHA asking for latitude on PPE combinations and guidance. 6.4.20

AGD leads effort to support H.R. 6494, Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Act, with the Organized Dentistry Coalition. 5.19.20

AGD joins with coalition to call for changes to deductible expenses for PPP loans. 5.7.20

Dr. White requests that OSHA substantially amend or remove Guidance for Dentistry Workers and Employers. 5.4.20

Dr. White submits testimony on America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020. 5.1.20

Dr. White sends support for HEROES Act. 4.28.20

Dr. White sends letter to CDC requesting input and development of guidelines. 4.23.20

Dr. White sends letter to OSHA requesting input and development of guidelines. 4.23.20

Dr. White sends letter to NIOSH requesting input and development of guidelines. 4.23.20

Dr. White sends letter to FEMA requesting development and implementation of PPE allocation policies. 4.23.20

AGD joins the Organized Dentistry Coalition to advocate for point-of-care testing for COVID-19. 4.22.20

AGD signs on with dental associations to increase funding for PPP & EIDL programs. 4.17.20

Dr. White sends letter to Congress to supplement funding for PPP and EIDL programs. 4.16.20

Dr. White writes to EPA Administrator Wheeler to delay start date of amalgam separator rule. 4.16.20

Dr. White sends letter to Governors, Dental and State Boards to broaden scope of PDMPs to be used for COVID-19 patients. 4.15.20

AGD signs letter with medical & dental associations to provide financial relief to non-profits. 4.14.20

Dr. White advocates for point-of-care COVID-19 testing in letter to Admiral Ricks 4.11.20

AGD sends letter to National Governors Association regarding PPE for emergency dental cases. 3.31.20

Letter from Sec. Azar to Governors to extend health care workforce during COVID-19 pandemic. 3.24.20

Guidance to states on extending health care workforce during COVID-19 pandemic. 3.24.20

AGD sends letter to Secs. Azar & DeVos to increase supply of health care professionals to combat COVID-19. 3.25.20

AGD sends letter to Vice President Pence to advocate for PPE coordinator. 3.24.20

AGD sends letter to Congress in support of COVID-19 stimulus. 3.18.20

AGD sends letter to HHS Secretary Azar to advocate for sufficient supply of surgical masks during the coronavirus public health emergency. 3.3.2020

AGD leads effort to support H.R. 4678, The Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2019 2.26.20

AGD sends letter to HRSA about Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) designations. 2.24.20

AGD supports H.R. 2339, Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic of 2019. 2.20.20

AGD responds to ADA SDF draft policy 2.19.20

AGD supports H.R. 1379, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act, to cover congenital anomalies 1.3.20

2019 Activities

AGD joins other organizations in letter to First Lady Melania Trump to clear market of flavored E-cigarettes until FDA review. 10.29.19

AGD joins other organizations in letter to Secretary Azar to clear market of flavored E-cigarettes until FDA review. 10.29.19

AGD joins other dental associations to support H.R. 3762, the Dental and Optometric Access Act. 10.16.19

AGD joins the ADA in support of H.R. 3418, the POST GRAD Act. 10.15.19

AGD joins over 600 organizations to support repeal of the medical device excise tax. 9.24.19

AGD joins other organizations on letter to President Trump of support for removal of flavored E-cigarettes. 9.24.19

AGD joins other organizations on letter to Melania Trump of support for removal of flavored E-cigarettes. 9.24.19

AGD sends comments to HRSA on proposed dental fluoride varnish measure. 9.23.19

AGD and others send letter to CMS about access to Medicaid. 9.13.19

AGD joins organized dentistry coalition to support changes to ACA Section 1557 (translation services). 8.13.19

AGD and dental associations support repeal of ACA medical device tax. 6.24.19

AGD supports the Tobacco-Free Youth Act, S. 1541. 5.30.19

AGD joins other organizations in support of H.R. 2339, the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic of 2019. 5.16.19

AGD lends support for the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019. 4.18.19

AGD joins other health care associations to support S. 350, the "Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act"

AGD joins other health care associations to support H.R. 1418, the "Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act"

AGD joins other associations in support of Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (REDI), H.R. 1554. 3.19.19

AGD President Request AADB to Remove Pop Up Link to AAE’s White Paper 3.19.19

AGD joins other organizations in support of increased House Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies appropriations. 3.14.19

AGD joins other organizations in support of increased Senate Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies appropriations. 3.14.19

AGD joins other organizations in support of increased House Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and related agencies appropriations. 3.14.19

AGD joins other organizations in support of increased Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and related agencies appropriations. 3.14.19

AGD Joins Coalition in Request to Reform Flexible Spending Account Legislation 3.1.19

AGD supports S. 503, H.R. 1366, RAISE Act of 2019. 3.1.19

AGD joins others in support of Ensuring Lasting Smiles, H.R. 1379, S. 560. 2.28.19

AGD supports H.R. 293, the Youth Vaping Prevention Act of 2019. 2.19.19

AGD sends letter to Surgeon General in anticipation of the 2020 Oral Health in America report. 1.25.19

2018 Activities 

AGD joins other health care associations to oppose tobacco rider in FDA appropriations bill. 9.11.18

AGD sends letter to Senators Baldwin and Ernst in support of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. 9.5.18

AGD sends letter to Congressmen Peterson, Young, Faso, McGovern, and Yoder in support of Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act. 9.5.18

AGD joins organized dentistry to support deferred interest on resident educational loans. 5.22.18

AGD joins other health care associations to support approval of authorized user fees for tobacco products. 5.4.2018

AGD comments to the FDA on opioid prescribing interventions—exploring a strategy for implementation. 3.16.18

AGD comments to the FDA on intended uses of dental/medical products. 2.5.18

AGD joins organized dentistry in letter to CMS to support technical changes to Medicare Part C and Part D. 1.12.18