[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1931-E1932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LABOR SECRETARY ELAINE L. CHAO REMARKS TO ANCOR CONFERENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I submit this statement for the Record.

     Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Remarks to ANCOR Conference

       Thank you for that kind introduction.
       I want to thank President Than Johnson, President-elect 
     Fred Romkema, and CEO Renee Pietrangelo for their service.
       I also want to you to know that you have a great advocate 
     in Haley Barbour.
       Later today, you'll be presenting ANCOR congressional 
     awards to Senator Bunning and Congressman Lewis. They are 
     both great Americans.
       I am also glad to see Ron Geary and Kelley Abell here. Ron 
     is CEO of ResCare in Louisville, Kentucky, the largest 
     service provider in the country. They're tremendously 
     dedicated to this community.
       I want to begin by saying ANCOR members are providing 
     wonderful community living and employment support and 
     services to Americans with mental retardation and other 
     disabilities. This association of organizations and companies 
     represent the heart of the American spirit--a spirit that 
     believes every human has worth and value and dignity.
       The supports and services you provide touch the lives of 
     over 260,000 Americans with mental retardation and other 
     disabilities, as well as their families. Because of the work 
     you do, people with disabilities are living more self-
     directed, independent lives in their communities.
       On behalf of President George W. Bush and his entire 
     Administration, I want to say ``thank you.''
       ANCOR representatives have met with Department of Labor 
     more times than I can count. We may just have to give you a 
     permanent DOL badge!
       Your meetings with the Assistant Secretary of Policy, ODEP, 
     ETA, and Wage and Hour, have been so important in helping the 
     government understand your concerns. You are educating us 
     about the growing crisis in recruiting, training, and 
     retraining direct support professionals.
       Again, we are listening and we are responding.
       For example, the Department of Labor has terminated the 
     companionship rulemaking that was slipped in at the last 
     minute by the previous Administration.
       We believe that companions provide essential support to 
     those men and women and children who remain at home.
       Raising costs and reducing access, restricting working 
     hours and increasing paperwork is not the answer. With your 
     help, the Department terminated the rule and restored more 
     flexibility for individuals with mental retardation and other 
     disabilities and their families!
       The Department has also listed Direct Support Specialist in 
     the Directory of Occupational Titles. Now, some outside of 
     this audience might not understand its significance, but we 
     know that this small change allows for big openings in 
     training and recognition.
       ANCOR has also worked with the Department on shaping the 
     policies for the President's New Freedom Initiative.
       This initiative, and the President's Executive Order to 
     bring swift and full implementation of the Olmstead Decision, 
     are key priorities at the Department of Labor.
       ANCOR members and the direct support workers you represent 
     are critical to the success of the New Freedom Initiative and 
     the Executive Order.
       I want to thank you for submitting extensive 
     recommendations last August as part of the President's 
     Executive Order, especially your recommendations to the 
     Department of Labor.
       I also appreciate your testimony on WIA reauthorization in 
     the inter-agency forum

[[Page E1932]]

     this summer. We need your input on how the Department can 
     better utilize the Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stops 
     to make sure we meet the needs of both public and private 
     providers, as well as job seekers.
       The paraprofessional long-term care workforce--from nursing 
     assistants to home health and home care aides to personal 
     care workers and attendants--is the cornerstone of America's 
     long-term care system. They provide hands-on care, 
     supervision, and emotional support to millions of Americans 
     with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
       According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, 
     the number of home health and personal care aides is nearly 
     equal to the number of nursing assistants, roughly 750,000.
       As you know, with an aging population and other industry 
     challenges, the future availability of frontline direct care 
     workers does not look promising. In fact, BLS estimates that 
     by 2006, personal and home care assistance will be the 
     fourth-fastest growing occupation with a growth rate of 
     84.7%.
       Between 1998 and 2008, America needs around 750,000 more 
     personal care and home health care workers. Unfortunately, 
     many of these positions will go unfilled, unless we take 
     action.
       The solution is not simply one of supply. The more 
     fundamental, long-term challenge is how to develop a 
     committed, stable pool of workers who are willing, able, and 
     skilled to provide quality care. I am committed to addressing 
     both the short and the long-term challenges, so we can design 
     quality systems of care for people with disabilities.
       The Department is making significant progress, but we still 
     need your input on issues concerning earnings opportunities, 
     employment status, and labor supply of personal assistants 
     and other community workers.
       Here are some actions that are either planned or are 
     currently underway at the Department:
       The Office of Disability Employment Policy, or ODEP, led by 
     Dr. Roy Grizzard, is working to identify options and to 
     develop an inter-agency/inter-department plan that will 
     increase the availability and quality of personal assistants 
     and identify other options for education, training, and 
     career advancement for these workers and other direct care 
     staff.
       More specifically, the Department of Labor and HHS are 
     taking a detailed look at the challenges to the industry, as 
     well as providing recommendations on how to address the 
     worker and skill shortage.
       ODEP and its partners will convene a listening session for 
     people with disabilities. A similar listening session will be 
     held for service providers and other direct care staff and 
     community service workers. Your organization, ANCOR, 
     certainly will be a part of these sessions.
       ODEP and ETA are working to increase access to personal 
     assistance supports through the One-Stop Centers.
       And ODEP is expected to establish an on-line registry, 
     similar to America's Job Bank, where local or community-based 
     organizations, like yours, can help locate more workers.
       The Administration is listening to ANCOR, and we still have 
     a lot left to do. I know we will continue to work together to 
     provide stable community infrastructure for the future of 
     individuals with mental retardation and other developmental 
     disabilities. Much of that relies on a quality, highly-
     trained direct support workforce, and we are committed to 
     making it happen.
       Thanks again for inviting me to be here today. I look 
     forward to working with ANCOR and its members to expand your 
     supports and services in the years to come. When government, 
     associations, business, and individuals work together, we can 
     build a more welcoming and promising future for all 
     Americans.

     

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