WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) issued the following statement after reintroducing H.R. 1285, the Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation exempting dental faculty loan repayment recipients from taxation for five years.

“It is very fitting this legislation be introduced in February, National Children’s Dental Health Month, to promote the benefits of good oral hygiene. Training our next generation of dentists is critical to the overall health of our country,” said Congressman Gosar. “I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reintroduce this important legislation that aims to remove barriers and strengthen oral health training,” said Congressman Gosar. 

Joining Congressman Gosar in introducing this bipartisan legislation included Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) Mike Simpson, D.M.D. (R-ID) and Grace Meng (D-NY), 

The Dental Loan Repayment Assistance Act exempts 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 prevents dental faculty members from paying exorbitant tax bills on their federal loan repayment benefits.

The Dental Faculty Loan Repayment Program (DFLRP) was created to address the significant difficulties in recruiting qualified individuals to fill faculty positions, especially acute in pediatric dentistry. A critical factor in recruiting and retaining dental school faculty from recent dental school or residency program graduates is the staggering student loan debt and income disparity with private practice. “By alleviating taxation of such payments to the individual, this legislation will make the program even more effective in recruiting and retaining pediatric dental faculty,” added Dr. Jessica A. Lee, President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.