In a demonstration of the critical role of legislative support for dental education and research, over 50 deans, faculty, and other oral health advocates visited Senate and House offices on April 20, 2005, to boost ADEA's legislative priorities on Capitol Hill. "The changing economies of higher education at state levels and a shrinking federal budget mean that dental education and research are in tremendous competition with other social imperatives," said Dr. Eric Hovland, ADEA President. "We must make our case persuasively to be competitive for those critical federal and state dollars. This Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill demonstrated ADEA's commitment to vying for our fair share."
Currently, ADEA's advocacy is focusing efforts on four messages: 1) oppose cuts in federal spending for Medicaid and support efforts to create a bipartisan Medicaid Commission in the FY 2006 Budget: 2) reauthorize the HIV/AIDS Dental Reimbursement Program as part of the Ryan White CARE Act; 3) support funding of $10 million in the FY 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill to implement the Dental Health Improvement Act; and 4) preserve the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research as a distinct institute in a reorganized NIH.
To help prepare the dean and faculty advocates for discussion on these issues, ADEA's Center for Public Policy and Advocacy held a day-long workshop prior to the meetings. Background and context were provided by policy specialists in the four key message areas. Participants were especially excited to hear the perspectives of Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Director of the NIDCR, regarding the critical importance of the NIDCR, the fourth message. Another highlight of the day was a luncheon speech by legendary Time magazine journalist Hugh Sidey, who reminisced about his experiences covering presidents from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush.
Aside from the background on specific issues, the workshop was designed to help participants develop their skills in utilizing key advocacy tools. Dr. Frank Catalanotto, ADEA Immediate Past President, led a session on developing and implementing a national advocacy network, which will ultimately provide grassroots support for oral health education and research across the country. In addition, ADEA staff gave the participants specific practical guidance on how to make their Congressional meetings run smoothly and effectively. Topics covered ranged from a review of the legislative process and how Congress is organized to a primer on relevant jargon and how to stay on "message."
As Jack Bresch, ADEA Associate Executive Director and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Advocacy, put it: "I think the following advice from Pericles is instructive: 'Having knowledge but lacking the power to express it clearly is no better than never having any ideas at all.' The ADEA Advocacy Day creates situations in which these leaders also become effective legislative advocates for dental education and research. They give voice to our ideas and needs."