Capito Secures Funding for WVU School of Dentistry

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, announced a $15 million Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award for West Virginia University’s (WVU) School of Dentistry from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This allocation, which was secured through a CDS request made by Senator Capito in Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), will support renovations to WVU’s Dental School. In August, Senator Capito attended the ribbon cutting for the school’s recent renovations, which were funded through a $12.6 million Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, and a $15 million CDS award in FY26 secured by the senator. “This funding represents a significant investment in education and health care in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “By continuing to modernize this facility, we are helping prepare the next generation of dentists and expanding access to dental care for families across West Virginia. I am proud to have helped secure this funding for the completion of this project, and I look forward to seeing the immense impact this investment will have on West Virginians for years to come.” “Our commitment to education, community service, and patient care is central to our WVU School of Dentistry mission of improving the oral health and well-being of families throughout West Virginia,” Dr. Stephen Pachuta, dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, said. “The support we received from Senator Capito and the federal appropriations process for this extensive renovation and expansion project is generationally transformational for our communities. As West Virginia’s only dental school, we offer a Doctor of Dental Surgery, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, and advanced specialty training. This project will significantly strengthen our educational foundation, helping to address workforce shortages while expanding access to high-quality care throughout our state and our region." Allocation details below: $15,000,000 CDS allocation to West Virginia University School of Dentistry (Morgantown, W.Va.) for construction, renovation, and the purchase of equipment. # # #