[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 9, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONDER ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2011

  Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 570, 
the Dental Emergency Responder Act. H.R. 570 will allow states to 
incorporate the valuable resources and knowledge of dentists and dental 
facilities into their emergency and disaster planning. This legislation 
is long overdue and will enable our state governments to take an ``all 
hands on deck'' approach when it comes to disaster response.
  As a trained dentist, I know that dental students receive a great 
deal of general medical training during the course of their education. 
As a result, dentists are skilled at patient interviews, diagnostic 
evaluations, triage, suturing, infection control measures, wound 
dressing, bloodborne pathogens, administration of medications both 
intravenously and orally, and basic emergency care, to give just a few 
examples. Indeed, some dentists receive additional training in oral 
surgery and are specially trained to address emergent trauma to the 
maxillofacial areas. Despite these qualifications, the National Health 
Security Strategy precludes states from including dentists and dental 
schools in their disaster planning framework. This is a serious 
omission and an unnecessary one. H.R. 570 would strike this language, 
and without imposing a federal mandate would permit states to evaluate 
how dentistry can be helpful in times of crisis and public emergencies.
  The Dental Emergency Responder Act is a concept whose time has come, 
and I urge my colleagues in both the House and Senate to support this 
important legislation.

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