Bill · H.R. 5949· House(119-HR-5949)
Rural Veterans Dental Care Act
- Introduced
- 11/7/2025
- Last activity
- 11/17/2025 — Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Sponsored by
- Tony Gonzales
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Rural Veterans Dental Care Act establishes a pilot program starting October 1, 2026. This program is designed to provide dental care to veterans living in rural and highly rural areas. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs can use mobile vans, modular clinics, or temporary tents to deliver these services. Priority will be given to areas far from existing clinics or those with many veterans and unmet dental needs. The program is set to end on September 30, 2029. The Secretary must provide annual reports on the program's progress and costs.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+9
Directly provides targeted dental healthcare services to veterans in underserved rural areas.
Does this help veterans get medical care?+8
Establishes a pilot program specifically to provide dental care to veterans in rural areas.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+7
Specifically targets rural and highly rural areas for healthcare delivery.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Access to Care: Veterans in rural and highly rural areas can receive dental services through mobile vans, modular clinics, or temporary structures (Section 2(b)).
-
Targeted Support for Remote Areas: Priority is given to locations more than 75 miles from a Secretary-operated dental clinic, helping those with the longest travel distances (Section 2(c)(1)).
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Focus on High-Need Populations: The program prioritizes areas with a high concentration of veterans who have unmet dental needs (Section 2(c)(2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Limited Duration: The benefits of the program are temporary, as it is scheduled to terminate on September 30, 2029 (Section 2(d)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+9Good For Rural Residents+7Good For Retirees+5Good For Seniors+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Farmers+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Veterans Healthcare+8Improves Healthcare Access+6
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+7
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- 11/17/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 11/7/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House