Sept. 15 was National Voter Registration Day. This year, 83% of legislative seats and 39 governorships are on the ballot for midterm elections. While Election Day isn’t until Nov. 3, now is the time to check your voter registration and begin making your plan to vote. ASDA Action has compiled free public resources to help you check your voter registration status, research your state’s voter ID laws, look up candidates and more. 

ASDA’s enhanced Advocacy Certificate Program (ACP) launched Aug. 1. Members can earn the certificate by completing five advocacy challenges, including sending letters through ASDA Action and attending advocacy events. Every challenge completed also helps your chapter climb the Chapter Challenge rankings. Check your progress and see where your chapter stands. 

The application period for ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network (LGN) Event Grant close on Oct. 1. All chapter leaders are encouraged to apply for up to $500 towards their next advocacy event. Email [email protected] with your questions.

ASDA’s Paying for Dental School resources brings together practical guidance on borrowing, repayment and funding strategies. Explore updates on new federal loan limits, compare financing options, find scholarship opportunities and access tools to help close your funding gap and make informed financial decisions.

As Congress returns from its August recess, we can expect a surge in legislative activity ahead of the midterm elections. Read below for important updates.

On Sept. 10, ASDA and members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition sent a letter to congressional leadership, urging key committees to advance the REDI Act to full House and Senate votes. ASDA has long advocated for the REDI Act, which seeks to defer interest and payments on federal student loans during residency programs. Given recent changes to federal student loan borrowing limits, the REDI Act is important now more than ever for dental students pursuing specialties. 

The REDI Act is widely supported across both sides of the aisle. ASDA members can advocate for this critical bill by writing to their legislators on ASDA Action. 

In August, ASDA joined members of the ELSA Coalition to advocate for H.R. 3277/S. 1677, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA). Patients with facial anomalies and their families are often faced with high costs of medically necessary corrective procedures. If passed, ELSA would require insurance companies to cover the cost. Since the last ASDA Action letter writing campaign (Aug. 24-28), ELSA has gained 27 new co-sponsors between the House and Senate. 

Stay tuned for more opportunities to help push this critical legislation across the finish line. 

President Trump reauthorized current funding for federal agencies through December, preserving support for key federal oral health programs, including the CDC Oral Health Program, HRSA Oral Health Workforce Programs and more. 

The House and Senate adopted a continuing resolution in August that allowed for a temporary funding extension while Congress considers full-year appropriations bills. If Congress fails to pass appropriations legislation by Dec. 11, the legislature will need to approve a subsequent continuing resolution or risk funding interruptions.

Read more from the ADA. ASDA will continue to monitor and keep you informed of any pending legislation. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its Campaign for Dental Health (CDH) website to focus on sharing science-backed resources with the public. The CDH now also includes an Advocacy Support Request Portal where individuals can request AAP support for oral health advocacy needs, including community water fluoridation.