[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 100 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1237-E1238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF VETERANS AND SURVIVORS DENTAL INSURANCE ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the Veterans and 
Survivors Dental Insurance Act of 2008. This legislation would 
authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer a voluntary 
dental insurance plan for certain veterans, their survivors and 
dependents.
  Under current law, veterans with service-connected dental conditions, 
a total service-connected disability, and former Prisoners of War are 
eligible for lifetime, comprehensive dental care from VA. Newly 
discharged veterans are eligible for a one-time, comprehensive dental 
evaluation and restorative services. Additionally, veterans with dental 
problems negatively impacting a medical condition, disabled veterans 
receiving vocational rehabilitation training, and certain homeless 
veterans are eligible for limited dental care. VA also provides 
inpatient emergency dental treatment at its medical facilities.
  In 1997, Congress first authorized the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program 
(TRDP). As Chairman of the House Armed Services Military Personnel 
Subcommittee during the 105th and 106th Congresses, I helped champion 
the TRDP program. It is a voluntary, all-enrollee-paid dental program 
that currently covers over 800,000 retired members of the uniformed 
services, including National Guard and Reserve personnel, and their 
families. This program offers military retirees an affordable 
comprehensive dental benefit program that covers diagnostic and 
preventive services, basic restorative services, periodontics, 
endodontics, oral surgery, and dental emergencies.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation would simply provide eligible 
veterans, survivors, and

[[Page E1238]]

dependents the option of enrolling in a high-quality and affordable 
dental care plan similar to what is available for military retirees 
under TRDP. I assure my colleagues that nothing in this Act would 
diminish the responsibility of the Secretary to provide dental care 
under current law. Eligibility for VA dental benefits according to law 
would not change.
  Important to overall health and quality of life is maintaining good 
dental health. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Veterans and 
Survivors Dental Insurance Act of 2008.

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