HR1187 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1187 LRB097 21988 GRL 70711 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Proper dental care is a vital health concern that is overlooked by or unavailable to many Americans; a lack of routine oral health care can lead to serious consequences, including severe tooth decay, gum disease, and potentially deadly infections; unchecked dental problems can also increase the risk of serious and chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease; and

WHEREAS, In June of 2012, United States Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) introduced the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012 into the Senate; and

WHEREAS, The Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012 seeks to end the oral health crisis in America by expanding coverage, creating new access points, enhancing the workforce, improving education, and funding new research; the Act would extend comprehensive dental health insurance to millions of Americans who do not have coverage today, while increasing both the number of places that would accept such coverage and the number of qualified oral health care professionals in communities with the greatest need for them; and

WHEREAS, The Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012 would also address the need to educate current and future oral health care providers to better serve vulnerable populations and to integrate oral health care into overall health care, as well as authorize greater amounts of funding for research on prevention and disease management techniques to improve oral health care delivery and the oral health status of the nation; and

WHEREAS, The passage of the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012 would be a step in the proper direction of ensuring that all Americans can receive the quality, consistent health care that they deserve; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President and Congress to pass H. 3272, the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act of 2012; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, and the President of the United States.