[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 140 (Tuesday, October 7, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9238-H9241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE DR. SAMUEL D. HARRIS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENTISTRY AS
THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL MUSEUM OF DENTISTRY IN THE UNITED STATES
Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 52) recognizing the Dr. Samuel D. Harris
National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian
Institution in Baltimore, Maryland, as the official national museum of
dentistry in the United States.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 52
Whereas the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of
Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is an
international resource with the primary mission of educating
people, especially children, about the history of dentistry
and the importance of good oral care;
Whereas the museum is the most comprehensive museum of
dentistry in the Nation, showcasing the people, objects, and
events that have created and defined the dental profession;
Whereas the museum is located on the campus of the
University of Maryland in Baltimore, home of the world's
first dental school, founded in 1840;
Whereas the museum educates the public about the importance
of oral health in overall health through exciting,
interactive exhibitions and the careful preservation and
creative presentation of significant dental artifacts;
Whereas the museum is a national center for both the public
and the profession to obtain information concerning
historical aspects of oral health and preventive care, for
scholars to study the evolution of dental treatment, and for
dental practitioners to take pride in the accomplishments of
their profession: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
museum, known as the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of
Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution,
located at 31 South Greene Street in Baltimore, Maryland, is
recognized as the official national museum of dentistry in
the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).
Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am pleased to rise today to offer for this body's consideration
House Joint Resolution 52 to recognize the Dr. Samuel D. Harris
National Museum of Dentistry located in Baltimore, Maryland, as the
official national museum of dentistry in the United States. I want to
thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for introducing the
bill.
This museum is the most comprehensive dental museum in the world. It
is a resource whose primary mission is to educate people, especially
children, about the history of dentistry and the importance of good
oral hygiene. It uses state-of-the-art interactive exhibitions and
expert presentations to deliver the message that oral health is
important to achieve overall health.
The museum is affiliated with the University of Maryland at
Baltimore, home of the world's first dental school, founded in 1840. It
contains hundreds of interesting and significant dental artifacts,
including George Washington's dentures. It also serves as a national
center of learning with an extensive library from which scholars may
study the evolution of dental treatment and learn of the numerous
accomplishments of the dental treatment and learn of the numerous
accomplishments of the dental profession over the years.
Most importantly, this museum is a reminder to all of us that oral
and general health are inseparable and that good dental care is
critical to our overall physical health and well-being. While oral
health in America has improved dramatically over the last 50
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years, these improvements have not occurred evenly across all sectors
of our population. Too many Americans today lack access to dental care,
particularly in rural communities. According to the report, ``Oral
Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General,'' an estimated 25
million Americans live in areas lacking adequate dental services.
Passage of this resolution to make the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National
Museum of Dentistry the official national museum of dentistry in the
United States will shed light on the problem many Americans face in
accessing dental care.
The museum is endorsed by the American Dental Association, the
National Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association,
the American College of Dentists, the International College of
Dentists, and the American Academy of the History of Dentistry, as well
as 50 State dental associations. So we can see it has great support.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Larson) for supporting this important measure. I should also note,
Madam Speaker, that the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) has been
not only a coauthor but a great supporter of this bill and was
scheduled to actually manage the bill today, but our schedule went more
quickly than we thought, so I just wanted to mention his support of the
bill.
In closing, I cannot help but say also, I hope that someday the staff
of the U.S. House of Representatives has a dental plan.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as
I may consume, and I concur with the chairman's sentiments about a
dental plan.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 52,
which recognizes the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry,
an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Baltimore, Maryland, as
the official national museum of dentistry in the United States.
Let me acknowledge from the outset the hard work of the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), who is the primary introducer of this
bill, along with all of the members of the Maryland delegation. The
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is unable to be here this
afternoon. He is attending the funeral services of Mervyn Jones, the
husband of our beloved colleague and dear friend and classmate of mine,
the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).
Mr. CARDIN. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for yielding me this time and for the work
that he has done on this resolution in pointing out that the principal
sponsor, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), who introduced
this resolution, could not be here today because of attending the
funeral for the spouse of one of our colleagues. Let me also thank the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) for his leadership on this issue.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 52, which recognizes
the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry as the official
national museum of dentistry in the United States.
For many years, the importance of oral health has been
underestimated. Only in recent years have we recognized that, in the
words of the former Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, ``There is no
health without oral health.''
We have learned the important linkage between plaque and heart
disease; that chewing stimulates brain cell growth; and that gum
disease can signal diabetes, liver ailments, and hormone imbalances.
Yet many Americans are still unaware of how critical oral health
hygiene is to good health care. Despite our advances in reducing dental
disease, one in five American children still suffer the devastating
effects of severe tooth decay. I am proud that in Baltimore, Maryland,
the Dr. Samuel D. Harris Museum of Dentistry is helping to reverse this
epidemic by spreading the message that preventive dental health for
children is key.
Dr. Samuel Harris is a retired pediatric dentist who was born in the
Ukraine and educated at the University of Michigan. He once said of the
museum he helped found, ``Our main purpose must be to educate, to teach
people, especially children, something important about themselves. That
way they live not only longer, but better, healthier lives. I think
that is a noble goal.''
One visit to the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore is proof
that Dr. Harris's goal has not only been met, it has been surpassed.
Located at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry in
Baltimore, the first dental school in the Nation, the Dr. Samuel D.
Harris National Museum of Dentistry opened in 1996. The museum's
permanent exhibits feature a display of historic dental tools,
including the first known toothbrush made out of twigs. Among its most
famous artifacts, as pointed out by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney),
are several sets of George Washington's ivory dentures and Queen
Victoria's personal dental instruments.
The museum also contains the actual office of Dr. G. V. Black, who is
known as the ``father of American dentistry.'' Children especially like
the tooth-shaped jukebox that plays vintage toothpaste commercials,
computers that teach tooth anatomy, several interactive displays on
oral health, and an extensive library of children's books, including
several histories about the tooth fairy. One of my favorite exhibits is
the scaled-down dentistry office where children can don smocks and
review an x-ray panel as they play dentist and examine each other's or
their parents' teeth.
Each year, more than 10,000 visitors pass through its doors,
including 4,000 schoolchildren. In addition to school and family
programs, the museum hosts a variety of symposia for adults and dental
health professionals, attracting visitors from across the Nation. Over
the years, it has become an invaluable resource for understanding the
history of dentistry and the importance of oral care.
I want to thank the House for considering this resolution, which
recognizes the museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, as
the Official National Museum of Dentistry in the United States. I urge
all of my colleagues to visit the museum in nearby Baltimore or its Web
site at www.dentalmuseum.org, and to support this resolution.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I thank the distinguished
gentleman from Maryland and the former Speaker of their House for his
insight and elaborating on the history of this outstanding museum.
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is a state-of-
the-art facility, as both the chairman and the gentleman from Maryland
(Mr. Cardin) have pointed out. It is a state-of-the-art facility that
uses innovative communication tools to deliver its message about proper
oral health care.
Its permanent exhibition, ``32 Terrific Teeth,'' extends over 7,000
square feet on two floors of the building. It provides a vast array of
historical artifacts, as has been mentioned; and it is especially
important for children. I was particularly glad to hear the gentleman
from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) talk about the tooth fairy, because we hope
that the tooth fairy is kind to the Members and all of the employees
with regard to a dental plan here, so I concur with the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Ney) as well.
I am very proud, as well, of my home State of Connecticut that has
its own place in the annals of dental history in this country. Three
people in particular, I believe, deserve appropriate recognition for
their Yankee ingenuity and for providing outstanding contributions to
the field of dentistry: Horace Hayden, who was the first dean of the
dental school in Baltimore; Horace Wells, who is the father of
anesthesia; and also James McManus, who is one of the leading members
on the Connecticut Dental Society who established a scholarship fund at
the time for $10,000 that is now worth more than $1 million, and
provides an opportunity for those people seeking to enter the field of
dentistry.
I would also like to thank two dentists from my district hailing from
the great community of West Hartford: both Dr. Bill MacDonnell and Dr.
Paula
[[Page H9240]]
Stern, both who have practices in dentistry in West Hartford,
Connecticut, for their dedication to their field and their commitment
to make sure that this kind of important legislation was supported and
passed. I would also like to further thank Beth Bellizzi from my staff
for providing some of the key research in this area. I urge unanimous
passage of this bill.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 52, which
recognizes the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, an
affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution in Baltimore, Maryland, as the
official national museum of dentistry in the United States.
The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is a state-of-
the-art facility that uses innovative communication tools to deliver
its message about proper oral health care. Its permanent exhibition,
``32 Terrific Teeth,'' extends over 7,000 square feet on two floors of
the building. It provides a vast array of historical artifacts,
interactive exhibitions, life-sized models and recreated environments.
Tour programs especially for children and theme-based family programs
help young people understand the everyday importance of dentistry.
I am very proud that my home state of Connecticut has its own place
in the annals of dental history in this country. Three people in
particular used their Yankee ingenuity and determination to provide
outstanding contributions to the field of dentistry.
Horace Hayden, born in Windsor, sought to raise the academic bar for
the next generation of dentists. In 1840, he became dean of the first
United States dental college, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.
One of the buildings on the college's former campus now houses the Dr.
Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry, which is located on the
Baltimore campus of the University of Maryland. Dean Hayden's
educational achievement is commemorated in a monument in his home town
of Windsor.
Four years after Dean Hayden began to shape the future of dental
education, Horace Wells made a discovery that would forever change the
way dental treatments are performed. Dr. Wells, who was from Hartford,
discovered anesthesia in December 1844. Dr. Wells was declared the
``discoverer of anesthesia'' by the Connecticut Legislature in 1848, by
the American Dental Association in 1863, and by the American Medical
Association in 1870. A statue of Dr. Wells and a plaque noting the
location of his office remind all who visit Hartford of his incredible
contribution.
Unlike his dental colleagues Hayden and Wells, who made a significant
impact in their lifetime, Dr. James McManus led a life of quiet
dedication. Dr. McManus, a Hartford resident, was the first president
of the Connecticut State Dental Association. His wife was so inspired
by his devotion to the field of dentistry that she established a
$10,000 endowment in his name. Her loving gift is now worth close to $1
million dollars. Among its many contributions, the James McManus Fund
of the Hartford Dental Society provides dental scholarships and
operates the Smile Mobile, which travels to dozens of schools every
year to teach children about proper dental health. In addition, the
James McManus Fund of the Hartford Dental Society and the Horace Wells
Club of Connecticut are founding benefactors of the Dr. Samuel D.
Harris National Museum of Dentistry.
I'm sure these three dental pioneers could never have imagined the
challenges today's dentists face in their effort to keep patients
healthy. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), tooth
decay is not just a child's problem. Adults of all ages can have
cavities, too. Dentists are concerned that sugar-filled sodas,
sweetened fruit drinks, and non-nutritious snack foods have become a
regular part of their patients' diets. The ADA also notes that eating
patterns and food choices among children and teens are important
factors that affect how quickly youngsters may develop tooth decay.
Equally as alarming is the link that scientists are making between
oral health problems and other diseases in the body. In the July 31,
2003 online edition of the journal Stroke, researchers found that the
more teeth a person has lost, the more likely he or she is to have both
advanced periodontal infections and potentially clogging plaques in the
carotid artery, the vessel that feeds the brain.
Good dental care can be achieved, but not without education. That is
why the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry is such a
vital resource, and why it should be designated as the official
national museum of dentistry. Furthermore, this designation will
highlight the critical public health role of the dental community.
I would like to thank two dentists from my district who assisted me
in my research of Connecticut's dental history: Dr. William A.
MacDonnell and Dr. Paula D. Stern, both of whom practice dentistry in
West Hartford, Connecticut. Their dedication to the field of dentistry
and commitment to their patients would make the Connecticut dental
mavericks they followed--Hayden, Wells, and McManus--very proud.
I would also like to thank my colleague, Representative Elijah
Cummings for introducing this bill, which acknowledges the valuable
education the museum provides. He has long supported this tremendous
learning institution. I know he would be joining me on the floor today
to urge its passage, but he is attending the funeral of the husband of
our deal colleague, Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
just to also make a note on behalf of our Ohio delegation, of course,
and the entire U.S. House of our sympathy for the gentlewoman from Ohio
(Mrs. Jones), our colleague, on the loss of her wonderful husband.
I would also just restate for the record, this is a very good bill.
And I thank the gentleman from Maryland, (Mr. Cummings), the gentleman
from Connecticut (Mr. Larson); and I would be remiss if I did not close
by thanking my dentist, Dr. Ron Persutti in Saint Clairsville, Ohio.
Sometimes I have told Dr. Persutti that I am not sure if I get votes
because of how I vote or sometimes because of what he does to help with
my smile. So with that, I urge support of the bill.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and pride that I
rise today to speak in favor of my resolution, H.J. Res. 52, to
recognize the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry,
located in Baltimore, Maryland, as the official national museum of
dentistry in the United States.
This resolution has the strong support of every major dental
association including the American Dental Association and the National
Dental Association.
The museum is located in my district and is the most comprehensive
dental museum in the world. Its focus is to remind people--especially
children--about the importance of good oral health care. For seven
years now, it has been a learning center for scores of children's
groups in and around the City of Baltimore, as well as those visiting.
It uses extraordinary exhibitions and expert presentations to deliver
the message that oral health is important to achieve overall health.
Children love its message and respond by being more aware of their own
oral health care needs.
An estimated 5,000 school children visit the museum each school year,
touring the new interactive exhibitions and discovering the wonders of
dental history. In addition, over 10,000 visitors from across the
Nation encounter this interactive, educational and entertaining museum.
The museum's traveling exhibitions reach national audiences,
providing a resource to expand public awareness of the importance of
oral health in overall health. Branches, Bristles and Batteries:
Toothbrushes Through Time teaches families about the evolution of the
toothbrush and how to achieve good oral health through engaging
interactive stations and high-tech computer programs. The exhibition
will reach approximately 2 million visitors during a national three-
year tour of children's and science museums.
Temporary exhibitions keep the museum alive and help to highlight
important dental issues and celebrate the great heritage of dentistry.
Currently, The Future is Now! African Americans in Dentistry pays
tribute to the movers and shakers who paved the way for African
Americans' success as dental professionals through dramatic portraits,
moving memoirs and inspirational stories. The exhibit demonstrates the
tremendous gains of dentistry over the past 30 years, promoting the
message that there remains much to do to increase diversity in
dentistry and recruit African American dental faculty and improve
access to health care. The exhibition will become the museum's second
traveling exhibition beginning a national tour in Fall 2004. Presenting
this exhibit to a wide national audience will create a new awareness of
opportunities and challenges and present positive role models of the
profession, both past and present.
The museum offers educational programming, such as MouthPower,
enabling young people to make informed choices about their oral health
that have a positive effect on their overall health. Using the museum's
unique resources, MouthPower participants understand the meaning of
good oral health and become aware of the role oral health plays in
overall health, learn the benefits of good nutrition and the harmful
effects of tobacco and other substances on oral health and become aware
of career options in dentistry. The positive outcomes from this program
include a stronger sense of self that will help prevent participants
from becoming addicted to smoking or using spit tobacco products and
also will encourage
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family members and friends to abstain. Through a partnership with the
American Dental Association, the program will be available nationally
with the addition of a web-based version and a resource kit for dental
professionals to use in their community.
Designating the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of dentistry the
official national museum of dentistry in the United States will ensure
the education of thousands of Americans about the importance of dental
care.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this national treasure
by passing H.J. Res. 52.
Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the rules and pass
the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 52.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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