[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 567 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
October 4, 2004.
Whereas access to dental care for children is a vital element of overall health
care and development;
Whereas dental caries--more commonly known as tooth decay--is the most common
chronic childhood disease;
Whereas untreated tooth decay in children results in thousands of children
experiencing poor eating and sleeping patterns, suffering decreased
attention spans at school, and being unable to smile;
Whereas due to a confluence of factors, children eligible for Medicaid and the
State Children's Health Insurance Program are three to five times more
likely than other children to experience and suffer from untreated tooth
decay;
Whereas dentists provide an estimated $1.7 billion annually in non-reimbursed
dental care;
Whereas the participation of dentists in the second annual ``Give Kids a Smile''
program, established and sponsored by the American Dental Association
and held this year on February 6, 2004, serves to remind people in the
United States about the need to end untreated childhood dental disease;
Whereas the generous support of numerous corporations, such as Crest Healthy
Smiles 2010, Sullivan-Schein Dental, DEXIS Digital X-ray Systems, and
Ivoclar Vivadent Inc., helped make this year's ``Give Kids a Smile''
program a success; and
Whereas more than 37,000 volunteers, including more than 15,000 dentists,
provided free education, screening, and care services to an estimated
one million children at more than 2,500 sites in all 50 States and the
District of Columbia during this year's ``Give Kids a Smile'' program:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates the American Dental Association for establishing
and continuing its sponsorship of the ``Give Kids a Smile'' program;
(2) emphasizes the need to improve access to dental care for
children;
(3) thanks the thousands of dentists, dental hygienists, dental
assistants, and others who volunteered their time to bring a smile to
the faces of an estimated one million children as part of the ``Give
Kids a Smile'' program; and
(4) thanks Crest Healthy Smiles 2010, Sullivan-Schein Dental, DEXIS
Digital X-ray Systems, and Ivoclar Vivadent Inc. for their generous
support which helped make this year's ``Give Kids a Smile'' program a
success.
Attest:
Clerk.