I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 994 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a public education 

campaign across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and 

Services Administration to increase oral health literacy and awareness. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2023 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a 

public education campaign across all relevant programs 

of the Health Resources and Services Administration 

to increase oral health literacy and awareness. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Oral Health Literacy 

5 and Awareness Act of 2023’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AND AWARENESS CAM2 PAIGN. 

3 The Public Health Service Act is amended by insert4 ing after section 340G–1 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 256g– 

5 1) the following: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 340G–2. ORAL HEALTH LITERACY AND AWARENESS. 

7 ‘‘(a) CAMPAIGN.—The Secretary, acting through the 

8 Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Ad9 ministration, shall establish a public education campaign 

10 (referred to in this subsection as the ‘campaign’) across 

11 all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Serv12 ices Administration (including the health center program, 

13 oral health workforce programs, maternal and child health 

14 programs, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and rural 

15 health programs) to increase oral health literacy and 

16 awareness. 

17 ‘‘(b) STRATEGIES.—In carrying out the campaign, 

18 the Secretary shall identify oral health literacy and aware19 ness strategies that are evidence-based and focused on oral 

20 health care education, including education on prevention 

21 of oral disease such as early childhood and other caries, 

22 periodontal disease, and oral cancer. 

23 ‘‘(c) FOCUS.—The Secretary shall design the cam24 paign to communicate directly with specific populations, 

25 including children, pregnant women, parents, the elderly, 

26 individuals with disabilities, and ethnic and racial minority 


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1 populations, including Indians, Alaska Natives, and Na2 tive Hawaiians, in a culturally and linguistically appro3 priate manner. 

4 ‘‘(d) OUTCOMES.—In carrying out the campaign, the 

5 Secretary shall include a process for measuring outcomes 

6 and effectiveness. 

7 ‘‘(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 

8 after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 

9 shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

10 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

11 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a 

12 report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the campaign. 

13 ‘‘(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

14 carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro15 priated $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 

16 2027.’’. 

Æ 


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