[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 116 (Tuesday, August 3, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S6653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CASEY:
  S. 3696. A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act with regard to 
certain exemptions under that Act for direct care workers and to 
improve the systems for the collection and reporting of data relating 
to the direct care workforce, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Direct Care 
Workforce Empowerment Act.
  Next year the baby boom generation will start turning 65 and by 2030, 
all 78 million will have reached that age. We must ensure this 
generation that fought in our wars, worked in our factories, taught our 
children and who gave us life and love are cared for. This will require 
an investment in the health care workforce that was begun under health 
care reform and must continue into the coming decades.
  It is the direct care worker that provides most of this care to our 
loved ones. Unfortunately, they are often not given the respect they 
deserve for the work they do. Direct care workers help more than 
250,000 Pennsylvanians and their families every day. This is also one 
of the fastest growing professions, according to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. It is now our responsibility to make sure these jobs, while 
often personally rewarding, provide opportunity for advancement and 
economic stability for the workers.
  This bill will do three key things.
  The bill will ensure that home care workers receive the Federal 
minimum wage and overtime protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act; 
improve Federal and State data collection and oversight with respect to 
the direct care workforce; and establish a grant program to help states 
improve direct care worker recruitment, retention, and training.
  I hope my colleagues join me in supporting this important 
legislation.

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