Rural Veterans Dental Care Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5949 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5949 To establish a pilot program to furnish dental care to veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 7, 2025 Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To establish a pilot program to furnish dental care to veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Veterans Dental Care Act''. SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO FURNISH DENTAL CARE TO VETERANS WHO RESIDE IN RURAL AREAS. (a) Establishment.--On October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program to furnish dental care to veterans who reside in rural and highly rural areas (as determined by the Director of the Office of Rural Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs). (b) Methods.--To carry out the pilot program, the Secretary may use the following methods: (1) Vans equipped with full diagnostic and treatment dental equipment. (2) Modular or containerized mobile dental clinics-- (A) at community-based outpatient clinics of the Department; or (B) rural health fairs. (3) Tents or other temporary structures at outreach events of the Department. (c) Priority.--In selecting locations to carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to locations-- (1) located more than 75 miles from the dental clinic operated by the Secretary; (2) that have a high concentration of veterans with unmet dental needs; and (3) rural and highly rural areas (as such terms are used by the Office of Rural