[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1530-H1531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize February as 
National Children's Dental Health Month and to raise awareness around 
the critically important issue of access to quality dental care for our 
Nation's children.
  The most prevalent chronic infectious disease among children in the 
United States is tooth decay. This disease is responsible for countless 
health problems in children and more than 51 million hours lost at 
school every year.
  However, this disease is preventable with basic dental care. Sadly, 
even with improvements in recent years, too many children are not able 
to access the quality dental care they need to simply stay healthy.
  I have a long history of advocating for increased access to dental 
care for all, particularly our Nation's young people. I have often said 
that our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will 
never see. That means that we must do everything in our power to ensure 
that they are healthy and given every opportunity to succeed.
  Today, I also rise to share the story of a young Maryland boy named 
Deamonte Driver. He died because of a lack of access to basic dental 
care.
  In February of 2007, 12-year-old Deamonte Driver came home from 
school with a simple headache, which had started as a toothache. His 
mother worked hard to make ends meet with all kinds of low-paying jobs. 
She searched for a dentist who would accept Medicaid for her children, 
but she found no dentist who would care for children's teeth.
  Deamonte's mother took him to the emergency room, where he received 
medication for pain, a sinus infection, and a dental abscess. 
Unfortunately, that was not enough. The bacteria from Deamonte's cavity 
spread to his brain, and, at 12 years old, Deamonte Driver died--12 
years old. Deamonte could be alive today if it were not for the lack of 
a simple procedure and the early removal of one tooth.
  Deamonte's story is one we must never, ever forget. We must imprint 
it in the DNA of every cell of our brains.

[[Page H1531]]

  Fortunately, we have made great strides in access to dental care, 
particularly for children, since Deamonte's death in 2007. Passage of 
the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and the 
Affordable Care Act have filled the gaps in dental care for children 
who are eligible for these programs. This has given many children 
across this great Nation access to dental care and many families 
greater peace of mind regarding their children's health.

  Maryland has also made significant progress in access to dental 
healthcare over the last several years and now stands as a national 
model thanks, sadly, to Deamonte Driver.
  Through the work of many groups and organizations, more Maryland 
children are visiting a dentist, and dental health is a priority in our 
great State. In 2017, almost 70 percent of the Maryland children 
enrolled in Medicaid received at least one dental care service.
  The Maryland Department of Health also funds specific programs, such 
as the Oral Disease and Injury Prevention Program and the Dental 
Sealants Program, that cares for and educates thousands of children, 
including right there at the schools.
  Yet, even with these improvements in access to education, there is 
more that must be done to protect dental health in honor of that little 
boy, Deamonte Driver. That is why I am proud to rise in support of 
dental care during Children's Dental Health Month and encourage 
everyone to take advantage of oral health education, screenings, 
preventive care, and restorative services in their community.
  It is also why I plan to reintroduce my Comprehensive Dental Reform 
Act this Congress, which, among other things, would provide 
comprehensive dental coverage to all Medicare, Medicaid, and VA 
beneficiaries and make dental care an essential health benefit for 
adults under the Affordable Care Act.
  Dental services must no longer be thought of as an optional health 
benefit for children or adults.

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