Good morning Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller.  Thank you for holding today’s hearing.  I appreciate having the opportunity to discuss a bill I introduced with Congressman Mark Kirk, H.R. 5595, the Make our Veterans Smile Act.

The Make our Veterans Smile Act will expand dental care offered by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to all service connected disabled veterans. The VA has done an excellent job of providing dental services to those that are able to receive them and the VA should continue to provide these services. However, it is understandable that the VA will have problems meeting the demand for dental services that will occur because of this legislation. That is why this legislation allows service connected disabled veterans to use contractor facilities for dental care. However, this legislation does not mandate that contractor facilities be used. Instead it simply gives the VA greater authority to use these facilities.

While I am glad that the VA currently covers dental care for approximately 360,000 veterans, there are many disabled veterans who are not able to receive even basic dental care through the VA. I believe we have a moral obligation to care for these veterans.

In 2000, the Department of Health and Human Services released a report entitled Oral Health in America: A Report by the Surgeon General. This report states “[1]the oral cavity is a portal of entry as well as the site of disease for microbial infections that affect general health status. Individuals such as immunocompromised and hospitalized patients are at greater risk for general morbidity due to oral infections.” It goes on to say that, “Oral-facial pain, as a symptom of untreated dental and oral problems and as a condition in and of itself, is a major source of diminished quality of life. It is associated with sleep deprivation, depression, and multiple adverse psychosocial outcomes,” and that “self-reported impacts of oral conditions on social function include limitations in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and intimacy.” These are just a few of the ways poor oral health can affect a disabled veteran’s life and their overall general health.

The cost of this bill is a cost of war; it is an investment in our way of life and our future. As every member of this subcommittee knows, to ensure a ready fighting force tomorrow we need to take care of our veterans today. I would also like to point out that conditions such as missing teeth and cavities can be barriers in seeking employment and I believe every effort must be made to ensure that there is a smooth transition for our military members who are entering the civilian work force. We must also ensure that disabled veterans from wars past are also given every tool to keep a meaningful job and this includes dental care.

I would like to thank the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, the Navy Reserve Association, the Air Force Association, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and AMVETS for their support of this bill.

I would also like to thank again Chairman Michaud and Ranking Member Miller for holding this hearing and for allowing me to testify.  I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

[1] US Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General-- Executive Summary. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000: Part Three.