[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 14 (Friday, February 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING GIVE KIDS A SMILE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL ACCESS DAY

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 6, 2004

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the American Dental 
Association for organizing the 2nd Annual Give Kids A Smile National 
Children's Dental Access Day. Today, dentists from across the country 
will be generously volunteering their time to provide free screening 
and dental care services to children in need.
  In its inaugural year last year, dentists participating in Give Kids 
A Smile National Children's Dental Access Day provided free care to an 
estimated 1 million disadvantaged children nationwide. Beyond providing 
free dental services and dental health education, this annual effort is 
aimed at raising awareness about the large number of children that go 
without dental care each year and the impact this can have on their 
overall health and wellness.
  Give Kids A Smile Day provides a tremendous opportunity for parents 
who lack adequate health or dental coverage to get needed dental care 
for their kids. There is a clear need for this. According to a recent 
report on health care quality, only 38 percent of children in poor 
health and less than half of all children between the ages of 2 and 17 
have seen a dentist in the past year.
  Access to good health care is synonymous with access to good dental 
care and too many children and families are being left behind. Given 
the impact untreated dental disease can have on a child's health, 
school performance and overall quality of life, there is no question 
that we need to improve awareness about and access to dental care.
  I applaud the American Dental Association for spearheading this 
effort. I commend the California Dental Association for their 
participation and the many dentists in my district from the Southern 
Alameda County Dental Society and the Alameda County Dental Society for 
performing this public service. Their contributions now and in the 
future will go a long way in improving the health of many needy 
children.

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