[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 13 (Tuesday, February 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 369--CONGRATULATING THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION 
  FOR SPONSORING THE 4TH ANNUAL ``GIVE KIDS A SMILE'' PROGRAM, WHICH 
EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN, AND 
 THANKING DENTISTS FOR VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO HELP PROVIDE NEEDED 
                              DENTAL CARE

  Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. 
Feingold) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 369

       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 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 3 to 5 times more likely than other children to 
     experience and suffer from untreated tooth decay;
       Whereas dentists provide an estimated $1,700,000,000 
     annually in non-reimbursed dental care;
       Whereas nearly 11,000 dentists provided approximately 
     $33,000,000 of free care to almost 500,000 children in the 
     3rd annual ``Give Kids a Smile'' program held on February 4, 
     2005;
       Whereas the participation of dentists in the 4th annual 
     ``Give Kids a Smile'' program, established and sponsored by 
     the American Dental Association and held on February 3, 2006, 
     serves to remind people in the United States about the need 
     to end untreated childhood dental disease; and
       Whereas the generous support of numerous corporations, such 
     as Crest Healthy Smiles, Sullivan-Schein Dental, and DEXIS 
     Digital X-ray Systems, helps make the ``Give Kids a Smile'' 
     program a success: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (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 hundreds of thousands of 
     children on February 3, 2006;

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