[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 625 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 625

Designating the week beginning September 9, 2018, as ``National Direct 
               Support Professionals Recognition Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 12, 2018

Mr. Cardin (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. King, Mr. Brown, Mr. Markey, 
 Mr. Murphy, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Warren, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Blumenthal, 
Ms. Hassan, Mr. Jones, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Casey, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr. 
Donnelly) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Designating the week beginning September 9, 2018, as ``National Direct 
               Support Professionals Recognition Week''.

Whereas direct support professionals, including direct care workers, personal 
        assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and 
        paraprofessionals, are key to providing publicly funded, long-term 
        support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities;
Whereas direct support professionals provide essential support that ensures that 
        individuals with disabilities are--

    (1) included as a valued part of the community of the individual;

    (2) supported at home, at work, and in the communities of the United 
States; and

    (3) empowered to live with the dignity that all people of the United 
States deserve;

Whereas all communities have a stake in ensuring that individuals with 
        disabilities thrive through the connections of the individuals to their 
        families, friends, and communities, fostered by the direct support 
        professionals of those individuals, so as to avoid more costly 
        institutional care;
Whereas direct support professionals support individuals with disabilities by 
        helping those individuals make person-centered choices that lead to 
        meaningful, productive lives;
Whereas direct support professionals must build close, respectful, and trusting 
        relationships with individuals with disabilities;
Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range of individualized 
        support to individuals with disabilities, including--

    (1) assisting with the preparation of meals;

    (2) helping with medication;

    (3) assisting with bathing, dressing, and other aspects of daily 
living;

    (4) assisting with access to the environment of the individuals;

    (5) providing transportation to school, work, religious, and 
recreational activities; and

    (6) helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting with 
financial matters, medical appointments, and personal interests;

Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing shortage of direct support 
        professionals throughout the United States;
Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element in supporting--

    (1) individuals who are receiving health care services for severe 
chronic health conditions and individuals with functional limitations; and

    (2) the successful transition of individuals from medical events to 
post-acute care and long-term support and services;

Whereas many direct support professionals are the primary financial providers 
        for their families;
Whereas direct support professionals are hardworking, taxpaying citizens who 
        provide an important service to people with disabilities in the United 
        States, yet many continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate 
        benefits, and have limited opportunities for advancement, resulting in 
        high turnover and vacancy rates that adversely affect the quality of 
        support, safety, and health of individuals with disabilities;
Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead v. L.C. by Zimring, 
        527 U.S. 581 (June 22, 1999)--

    (1) recognized the importance of the deinstitutionalization of, and 
community-based services for, individuals with disabilities; and

    (2) held that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 
U.S. 12101 et seq.), a State must provide community-based services to 
persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities if--

    G    (A) the community-based services are appropriate;

    G    (B) the affected person does not oppose receiving the community-
based services; and

    G    (C) the community-based services can be reasonably accommodated 
after the community has taken into account the resources available to the 
State and the needs of other individuals with disabilities in the State; 
and

Whereas, in 2018, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in 
        home- and community-based settings and that trend will increase over the 
        next decade: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week beginning September 9, 2018, as 
        ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week'';
            (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct 
        support professionals in enhancing the lives of individuals 
        with disabilities of all ages;
            (3) appreciates the contribution of direct support 
        professionals in supporting individuals with disabilities and 
        their families in the United States;
            (4) commends direct support professionals for being 
        integral to the provision of long-term support and services for 
        individuals with disabilities;
            (5) encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
        Department of Labor to collect data specific to direct support 
        professionals; and
            (6) finds that the successful implementation of the public 
        policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the United 
        States depends on the dedication of direct support 
        professionals.
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