Dr. Abraham Schneider Advocates for Oral Health Research on Capitol Hill

Associate Dean for Research Dr. Abraham Schneider met with health policy and legislative staff from the offices of Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) in Washington, D.C. The visit was part of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Advocacy Day in partnership with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). 

“I encouraged Congress to continue funding dental, oral, and craniofacial research, as well as important oral health programs,” Dr. Schneider said. “I stressed the need for strong funding in the fiscal year 2027 budget for programs that improve oral health across the country, including research supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH/NIDCR), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) oral health workforce programs, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Oral Health.”

Dr. Schneider also urged support for the bipartisan Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA). The bill would help more people get coverage for necessary dental care related to birth defects and other congenital conditions that affect the face and mouth.

Events like advocacy day help lawmakers understand how oral health research, education, and access to care affect people in their communities and highlight why continued support is important for improving oral health nationwide.