Although you may not see it reflected in this Congress the scientific community is almost unanimous in agreeing that global warming is real, that it is caused by human activity, that it is already causing widespread destruction in our…

That ought to be a wakeup call to all concerned.

You're telling me that they are making money?

They go to the emergency room, and then they are referred to the health department.

If I graduated with $200,000 in debt, I probably would not be running to a community health center to make whatever I would make there.

If you are a lower income American. You're on Medicaid, but you don't have access--Medicaid does not pay for a dentist.

That's all you have? And there is only one dental shortage designation area in the county.

I think to remember Deamonte Driver, our job is to dedicate ourselves to make very, very significant improvements to our dental care system so we never see another Deamonte Driver situation again in this country.

We need a stronger financial commitment to support the public health infrastructure so that the dental needs of all Americans can be met.

Quality dental care is not a luxury, it is a necessity and we need to make it accessible and affordable.

What we're really talking about is the workforce, in general, whether it's dental therapists or dentists or hygienists.

But if you don't expand access, it is an equally or perhaps more costly proposition.

We are going to take a look at models which seem to be high quality and cost-effective.

What we have learned in Vermont is that every time you build--it's like, 'If you build it, they will come.'

Say that again. I want everybody to hear that. You have Medicaid, but only 1 in 10 dentists will take Medicaid patients.

What we know--and it's true of dental care and it's true of healthcare as well--is if a Medicaid patient needs primary care, can't find a primary healthcare provider and walks into an emergency room, it costs 10 times more than walking…

And are you finding--and we have the same issue--we had a hearing here on primary healthcare, getting doctors, young medical students, involved in primary healthcare. Are you finding that, given the opportunity, and if there were decent…

We're going to do our best to fight for more money for the community health centers.

I beg you to pass this legislation so that help can be provided.

You're convinced the quality is good?

You're absolutely right, and that's why we're holding hearings like this, just to raise that consciousness.

Later this month, I intend to reintroduce the Comprehensive Dental Reform Act.

Let me just say to Mr. Nycz and to everybody here that we're going to do our best to focus more and more attention on this issue--why this hearing is so important.

We have a crisis. We don't have the workforce to address the crisis.

We don't have funding. We have the capacity, but we don't have funding.