Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke last week collaborated with three congressional colleagues in re-introducing the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act of 2019, or H.R. 996.
The other representatives were Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (R-AZ), Mike Simpson, D.M.D. (R-ID) and Grace Meng (D-NY).
Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District, said H.R. 996 would exempt Title VII’s dental faculty loan repayment recipients from taxation for five years during the span of their participation in the loan forgiveness program.
“The bill keeps dental faculty members from having to pay potentially hefty tax bills on their federal loan repayment benefits,” she said.
Senators Cardin (D- MD) and Wicker (R-MS) also introduced the companion bill, S. 359, in the Senate last week.
“Our community is in desperate need of talented and compassionate capable doctors, nurses and dentists, who are willing to help eliminate health disparities that plague our most underserved communities,” Clarke said.
“No medical professional should have to worry about crushing student loan debt while caring for our most vulnerable populations,” she added. “The Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act gives these heroes one less thing to worry about.”
GOSAR said training the next generation of dentists is “critical to the overall health of our country.
“I’m proud to work with my colleagues on legislation that aims to remove barriers and strengthen oral health training,” he said.
MENG said she was also “proud to support Rep. Clarke’s Dental Loan Repayment Bill that would provide much needed relief for dental faculty from paying potentially hefty taxes on their federal loan repayment benefits.
“We must ensure there is a pipeline of dental professionals who are able to pursue their careers while managing the burden of student debt,” she added. “I look forward to this bill’s passage through Congress.”
