[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 79 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DENTAL OFFICER RETENTION ACT: TO AMEND TITLE 37, UNITED STATES CODE, TO 
 REMOVE THE PROHIBITION ON THE ABILITY OF QUALIFIED DENTAL OFFICERS IN 
    THE UNIFORMED SERVICES TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PAY WHILE 
           UNDERGOING DENTAL INTERNSHIP OR RESIDENCY TRAINING

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                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 2, 2003

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the Dental Office 
Retention Act, a bill to allow dental officers in military service to 
receive additional special pay while undergoing an internship or 
residency.
  Aspiring dentists leave medical school owing hundreds of thousands of 
dollars, often substantially more than $100,000. Shouldering this 
burden places a large financial strain on these men and women. The loss 
of additional special pay during their dental training program further 
aggravates this problem at a time when these dentists can least afford 
it.
  Dental officers with 3-10 years of service lose $6,000 in additional 
specialty pay. Dental officers with more than 10 years of service lose 
$15,000. Military dentists face further incentives to leave the 
service. This is because they receive salaries 30-50 percent lower than 
their civilian counterparts. We should not be cutting compensation to 
our military dentists when they need it most.
  There are 3,000 dentists in Connecticut and they tell me that the 
most pressing concern for them in pursuing a career in the military 
dental corps is how to repay their loans.
  Dr. Mark Desrosiers, a dentist from my congressional district in 
eastern Connecticut, says, ``Having been in the military, and a 
practicing dentist myself, I think this would be a great way to ensure 
that residents in military specialty programs not be penalized 
financially by losing their special pay.''
  Another dentist explains during an exit interview why, though he 
would rather have stayed in the military, his financial burden forced 
him to leave. ``The main reason for my decision to leave the Air Force 
is my financial situation. I have enjoyed my time in the Air Force and 
believe it is one of the best ways for a young dentist to gain 
experience both as a dentist, leader and follower. It was a difficult 
decision to make because my wife and I enjoy the military way of life, 
but we cannot pay our debt with the salary I am paid.''
  Mr. Speaker, in order to keep a sufficient number of quality dentists 
in the dental corps, thereby ensuring the dental readiness of America's 
forces, it is important to eliminate this disincentive that drives 
officers from the dental corps. Removing the restriction that the 
officers not receive additional special pay (ASP) while participating 
in a dental internship or residency training program would help achieve 
that end.
  I urge all my colleagues to support my legislation.




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