[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR CAREGIVERS SUPPORTING CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES

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                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Mr. LATHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to a 
looming crisis. I have been involved in finding ways to address the 
growing nursing workforce shortage that threatens access to quality 
health care for retiring members of the baby boom generation. There is 
another workforce crisis with which we should also be concerned, which 
is that facing direct support professionals, often referred to as 
personal assistants or home health aides. These dedicated individuals 
provide the kind of daily assistance that allows people with 
intellectual and developmental disabilities the option to live in home 
or community-based settings rather than institutions when appropriate. 
This not only saves taxpayer dollars through the Medicaid program but 
dramatically improves quality of life for these Americans.
  However, wages for direct support professionals have historically 
been low, particularly those in private non-profit settings. Vacancy 
rates for direct support professionals are rapidly increasing as other 
service and health care sector jobs become more competitive. In my home 
state of Iowa the annual turnover rate at non-profit service providers 
ranges from 20 percent to more than 40 percent.
  It takes individuals with special skills and compassionate motivation 
to be direct support professionals. For example, Pete Faust has been 
working at Opportunity Village, a home and community-based services 
provider in Clear Lake, Iowa, for over 31 years. Although Pete must 
work extra hours just to pay his bills, he continues to work at 
Opportunity Village because he understands that consistency and 
familiarity are what his clients need. Many direct support 
professionals like Pete would like to continue in this field but are 
faced with hard choices when there are opportunities to earn more money 
for their families in other occupations.
  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for this 
workforce will increase 41 percent by 2014, and the number of people 
needing personal assistance services will double by 2050. The current 
crisis will soon grow exponentially. That is why I strongly support 
measures like H.R. 1279, the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and 
Security Act, which creates federal-state Medicaid partnerships to find 
innovative ways to provide incentives such as increased wages for these 
workers on a sustainable basis.
  I urge my colleagues to support this effort by cosponsoring this 
legislation and urging the leadership of the House of Representatives 
to move this and similar proposals forward.

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