[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.