[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 182 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 182

Congratulating the American Dental Hygienists' Association on the 100th 
anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene and commending its work 
     to improve the oral health of the people of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2013

  Mr. Cardin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Franken, Mr. 
 Harkin, Mr. King, and Mr. Brown) submitted the following resolution; 
                   which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Congratulating the American Dental Hygienists' Association on the 100th 
anniversary of the profession of dental hygiene and commending its work 
     to improve the oral health of the people of the United States.

Whereas the first dental hygiene education program was established in 1913 and 
        early graduates worked in schools providing direct access to oral health 
        care to school children;
Whereas the American Dental Hygienists' Association is the largest national 
        organization representing the more than 150,000 licensed dental 
        hygienists in the United States;
Whereas, in order to become licensed as a dental hygienist, an individual must 
        graduate from one of the 335 accredited dental hygiene education 
        programs in the United States and successfully complete a national 
        written exam and a State or regional clinical exam;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the dental hygiene 
        profession is one of the fastest growing health care professions, with 
        employment of dental hygienists expected to grow 38 percent between 2010 
        and 2020;
Whereas dental hygienists are prevention specialists who understand how the 
        connection between oral health and total health can prevent disease, 
        treat problems while they are still manageable, conserve critical health 
        care dollars, and save lives;
Whereas new research continues to demonstrate that oral health is a vital 
        element of overall health;
Whereas dental caries (more commonly known as tooth decay) are the single most 
        common chronic disease of childhood, 5 times more common than asthma;
Whereas nearly 48,000,000 people in the United States live in areas without 
        enough dental practitioners;
Whereas less than 40 percent of children enrolled in Medicaid receive at least 
        one preventive dental service each year and this percentage varies 
        widely among the States;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 
        9,000 new dental practitioners are needed to address the dental 
        workforce shortage in underserved areas;
Whereas the American Dental Hygienists' Association represents, empowers, 
        develops, and supports dental hygienists;
Whereas the American Dental Hygienists' Association works to improve access to 
        oral health care services, which are essential to the health of the 
        people of the United States;
Whereas the Center for Lifelong Learning of the American Dental Hygienists' 
        Association seeks to advance the study of dental hygiene through 
        educational opportunities; and
Whereas the American Dental Hygienists' Association advocates in support of 
        Federal oral health programs, expanding access to care for underserved 
        populations, optimizing the dental workforce, and maximizing coverage 
        for oral health services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the American Dental Hygienists' 
        Association on the 100th anniversary of the profession of 
        dental hygiene;
            (2) commends the American Dental Hygienists' Association 
        for its work to improve the oral health of the people of the 
        United States, a fundamental part of overall health and well-
        being;
            (3) recognizes dental hygienists across the United States 
        who volunteer their time and resources to further their 
        profession and to increase access to oral health care services; 
        and
            (4) commends the dental hygiene profession on its 
        centennial celebration.
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