[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 115 (Monday, July 14, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S6654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 613--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 8, 
  2008, AS ``NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK''

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Baucus, Mr. 
Smith, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Bunning, and Mr. Bingaman) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 613

       Whereas direct support workers, direct care workers, 
     personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support 
     workers, and paraprofessionals (referred to in this preamble 
     as ``direct support professionals'') are the primary 
     providers of publicly funded long term support and services 
     for millions of individuals;
       Whereas a direct support professional must build a close, 
     trusted relationship with an individual with disabilities;
       Whereas a direct support professional assists an individual 
     with disabilities with the most intimate needs, on a daily 
     basis;
       Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 
     of support, including--
       (1) preparation of meals;
       (2) helping with medications;
       (3) bathing;
       (4) dressing;
       (5) mobility;
       (6) getting to school, work, religious, and recreational 
     activities; and
       (7) general daily affairs;

       Whereas a direct support professional provides essential 
     support to help keep an individual with disabilities 
     connected to the family and community of the individual;
       Whereas direct support professionals enable individuals 
     with disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives;
       Whereas direct support professionals are the key to 
     allowing an individual with disabilities to live successfully 
     in the community of the individual, and to avoid more costly 
     institutional care;
       Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are 
     female, and many are the sole breadwinners of their families;
       Whereas direct support professionals work and pay taxes, 
     but many remain impoverished and are eligible for the same 
     Federal and State public assistance programs on which the 
     individuals with disabilities served by the direct support 
     professionals must depend;
       Whereas Federal and State policies, as well as the Supreme 
     Court, in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), assert the 
     right of an individual to live in the home and community of 
     the individual;
       Whereas, in 2008, the majority of direct support 
     professionals are employed in home and community-based 
     settings and this trend is projected to increase over the 
     next decade;
       Whereas there is a documented critical and growing shortage 
     of direct support professionals in every community throughout 
     the United States; and
       Whereas many direct support professionals are forced to 
     leave jobs due to inadequate wages and benefits, creating 
     high turnover and vacancy rates that research demonstrates 
     adversely affects the quality of support to individuals with 
     disabilities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning September 8, 2008, 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 the needs that reach beyond the 
     capacities of millions of families in the United States;
       (4) commends direct support professionals as integral in 
     supporting the long-term support and services system of the 
     United States; and
       (5) finds that the successful implementation of the public 
     policies of the United States depends on the dedication of 
     direct support professionals.

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