Dentistry Coalition Urges Support for Dental Faculty Student Loan Assistance Bill
On July 30, AGD, along with other members of the Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) in an effort spearheaded by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, sent letters to the House Ways & Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee calling for the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act (H.R.1285/S.449) to be passed in any upcoming tax-related legislation.
The legislation allows for the exemption of certain participants in the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment program from paying income tax on the federal loan repayments they receive. The taxation exemption would aid in recruiting and retaining dental health faculty as the loan repayment programs stagger payments over multiple years of service.
Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have sponsored the bill in the House and Senate, respectively.
Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD strongly supports this legislation, which aims to address the severe burden student loans place on dental students and, consequently, bolster the number of dental school faculty members. Without adequate numbers of dental educators, schools may not be able to train enough dentists to provide oral health services to the public. This situation would make it increasingly challenging to provide a high level of training to dental students.
The legislation allows for the exemption of certain participants in the Dental Faculty Loan Repayment program from paying income tax on the federal loan repayments they receive. The taxation exemption would aid in recruiting and retaining dental health faculty as the loan repayment programs stagger payments over multiple years of service.
Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Grace Meng (D-NY), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have sponsored the bill in the House and Senate, respectively.
Impact on General Dentistry: The AGD strongly supports this legislation, which aims to address the severe burden student loans place on dental students and, consequently, bolster the number of dental school faculty members. Without adequate numbers of dental educators, schools may not be able to train enough dentists to provide oral health services to the public. This situation would make it increasingly challenging to provide a high level of training to dental students.