[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE WORKFORCE MOSAIC AND THEIR ROLE IN THE ANCOR 2008 
                    GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES SEMINAR

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                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all the good 
people at Mosaic, who have come to Washington, D.C. to take part in the 
American Network of Community Options and Resources, ANCOR, 2008 
Governmental Activities Seminar.
  Mosaic, a disability advocacy organization based in my Congressional 
district, has a long history of providing direct support and services 
to individuals with disabilities of all ages. It employs more than 
5,000 employees nationally who provide a range of supports 7 days a 
week, 24-hours a day. In Omaha, Mosaic's highly skilled and committed 
workforce support more than 250 individuals, making Mosaic one of the 
largest providers in the metropolitan area.
  Throughout this week, people from Mosaic, along with the attendees at 
ANCOR's events are meeting with their Congressional offices to raise 
awareness about the need for an adequately paid, trained and dedicated 
workforce. Most direct support professionals are women with families 
working 40-hour work weeks at an average of $9.47 an hour. That amounts 
to an annual salary of $18,182, a figure below the $21,200 poverty 
level for a family of four. Low wages have been a prime obstacle in 
maintaining a qualified workforce. Unlike other sectors of the private 
market, the formal long-term supports system is almost entirely 
dependent upon public financing--particularly Medicaid funding.
  Demand for direct support professionals continues to grow and is 
estimated to increase by about 38 percent over the next 12 years. We 
must ensure that qualified and reliable people are recruited as 
caregivers so that they in turn can help individuals with disabilities 
participate and contribute to their communities.
  Madam Speaker, there is no better way to recognize this workforce's 
contribution to the Nation than to ensure that these dedicated direct 
support professionals are fairly compensated. I urge my colleagues to 
join with me in cosponsoring the bipartisan Direct Support 
Professionals Fairness and Security Act, H.R. 1279.

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