[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 453 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 453

    Expressing the sense of the Senate that supporting seniors and 
  individuals with disabilities is an important responsibility of the 
   United States, and that a comprehensive approach to expanding and 
 supporting a strong home care workforce and making long-term services 
 and supports affordable and accessible in communities is necessary to 
 uphold the right of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the 
             United States to a dignified quality of life.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 10, 2012

 Mr. Harkin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
        the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the sense of the Senate that supporting seniors and 
  individuals with disabilities is an important responsibility of the 
   United States, and that a comprehensive approach to expanding and 
 supporting a strong home care workforce and making long-term services 
 and supports affordable and accessible in communities is necessary to 
 uphold the right of seniors and individuals with disabilities in the 
             United States to a dignified quality of life.

Whereas the aging of the baby boom generation will cause the number of 
        individuals in the United States who are 65 years of age or older to 
        increase from 40,000,000 to 70,000,000 during the next 2 decades;
Whereas 12,000,000 adults, nearly half of whom are under 65 years of age, need 
        long-term services and supports due to functional limitations;
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 
        (1999), mandates the end of unnecessary segregation of individuals with 
        disabilities in institutions, and requires that individuals with 
        disabilities receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate 
        to their needs;
Whereas the vast majority of individuals in the United States prefer to receive 
        long-term services and supports in their homes so that they may continue 
        to live independently and with dignity;
Whereas the costs of long-term services and supports for seniors and individuals 
        with disabilities are high;
Whereas the great expense of long-term services and supports can affect all 
        individuals, regardless of income;
Whereas 70 percent of individuals who are 65 years of age or older will need 
        some form of long-term services and supports;
Whereas the number of individuals who need long-term services and supports is 
        projected to grow from 12,000,000 to 27,000,000 by 2050;
Whereas there are approximately 3,000,000 workers in the direct care workforce, 
        leaving a huge gap between the services needed and the size of the 
        current workforce;
Whereas the United States is experiencing a jobs crisis, as 25,000,000 
        individuals are unemployed or underemployed;
Whereas home care is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States 
        economy, providing critical daily care, services, and supports to 
        millions of individuals and families across the country;
Whereas an estimated 1,800,000 additional home care workers will be needed 
        during the next decade to serve the growing population of seniors and 
        individuals with disabilities;
Whereas the quality of home care jobs is poor, with low wages, few benefits, 
        high turnover, and a high level of job stress and hazards;
Whereas home care and personal assistance workers earn a median hourly wage of 
        $9.40, and nearly half of such workers live in households that also rely 
        on public assistance;
Whereas approximately 58 percent of home care workers work part-time, and 
        approximately 40 percent of those part-time workers would prefer to work 
        more hours;
Whereas nearly 23 percent of the individuals who provide home care services were 
        born outside the United States;
Whereas a stabilized home care workforce would lead to improved continuity and 
        quality of long-term services and supports;
Whereas the issue of long-term services and supports is a critical issue for 
        women, as 70 percent of individuals who need such care are women 65 
        years of age or older, 90 percent of paid caregivers are women, and 85 
        percent of family members and friends who informally provide care are 
        women who often have to leave the paid workforce to provide such care, 
        and thus are at a financial disadvantage during their working years and 
        face a reduction in Social Security benefits when they retire; and
Whereas a comprehensive approach that focuses on job creation and job quality, 
        workforce training, pathways to citizenship and career advancement, and 
        support for individuals and families is necessary to build a strong home 
        care workforce and make quality long-term services and supports 
        affordable and accessible for all individuals in the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that a comprehensive 
approach to expanding and supporting a strong home care workforce and 
making long-term services and supports affordable and accessible in 
communities is necessary to uphold the right of seniors and individuals 
with disabilities in the United States to a dignified quality of life.
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