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H.R. 4556: To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes.

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H.R. 4556: To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes.

115th Congress · introduced 2017-12-05 · Armed Forces and National Security · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-12-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

This bill makes all veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system eligible for VA-provided dental services by removing certain dental service restrictions. The bill phases in eligibility over four years based upon existing eligibility, degree of service-connected disability or other disability, prisoner of war status, award of a Purple Heart, financial need, or VA health care eligibility.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish dental care in the same manner as any other medical service, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1] · 28 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Quigley (D-IL), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr4556 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115