Recognizing the Bright Start Initiative

Floor Speech

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Ms. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bright Start Initiative and its founders, Michael and Marcus Kang. The Bright Start Initiative was founded by two brothers who saw firsthand that oral-health education and basic supplies were not reaching every family equally.

The Bright Start Initiative is a student-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit bringing free dental supplies and multilingual oral-health education to underserved students across the United States. Student-led teams partner with schools and dental professionals to deliver supplies and lessons families can actually use, in the languages they already speak at home.

One in five children in the United States lives with untreated tooth decay, and it is the number one chronic illness among children. The Bright Start Initiative is prepared to support over 5,000 students, with lessons translated into over 18 languages, and have partnered with 100 schools in six states.

Michael and Marcus Kang are leaders in Washington State and in the country. I applaud Michael and Marcus's championship of their fellow students and look forward to all that they will accomplish in the future.

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