[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 126 (Wednesday, August 5, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6403-S6404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 245--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 13, 
  2015, AS ``NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK''

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Brown, Mr. Portman, Mr. 
King, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
Booker, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Ayotte, and Mrs. Murray) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 245

       Whereas direct support professionals, direct care workers, 
     personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support 
     workers, and paraprofessionals (in this resolution 
     collectively referred to as ``direct support professionals'') 
     are the primary providers of publicly funded long-term 
     support and services for millions of individuals with 
     disabilities;
       Whereas a direct support professional must build a close, 
     respectful, and trusting relationship with an individual with 
     disabilities;
       Whereas a direct support professional assists individuals 
     with disabilities with intimate personal care assistance on a 
     daily basis;
       Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 
     of individualized support, including--
       (1) preparation of meals;
       (2) helping with medications;
       (3) assisting with bathing, dressing, and other aspects of 
     daily living;
       (4) assisting individuals with physical disabilities in 
     accessing their environment;
       (5) providing transportation to school, work, religious 
     activities, and recreational activities; and
       (6) helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting 
     with financial matters, medical appointments, and personal 
     interests;
       Whereas direct support professionals provide essential 
     support to help keep individuals with disabilities connected 
     to the families, friends, and communities of the individuals;
       Whereas direct support professionals support individuals 
     with disabilities in making choices that lead to meaningful, 
     productive lives;
       Whereas direct support professionals are integral to 
     helping individuals with disabilities live successfully in 
     the communities of the individuals, avoiding more costly 
     institutional care;
       Whereas the participation of direct support professionals 
     in medical care planning is critical to the successful 
     transition from medical events to post-acute care and long-
     term support and services;
       Whereas many direct support professionals are the primary 
     financial providers for the families of the direct support 
     professionals;
       Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element 
     in supporting individuals--
       (1) who receive health care services for severe chronic 
     health conditions; and
       (2) with functional limitations;
       Whereas direct support professionals are hardworking, 
     taxpaying citizens who provide an important service to 
     individuals with disabilities, yet many direct support 
     professionals continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate 
     benefits, and have limited opportunities for advancement, 
     resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates, adversely 
     affecting the quality of support for, and the safety and 
     health of, individuals with disabilities;
       Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing 
     shortage of direct support professionals throughout the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead 
     v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), recognized the importance of 
     community-based services for individuals with disabilities in 
     holding that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 
     1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), States must provide 
     community-based treatment to individuals with disabilities 
     when--
       (1) the services are appropriate;
       (2) the affected individuals do not oppose community-based 
     treatment; and
       (3) community-based treatment can be reasonably 
     accommodated, taking into account the resources available to 
     the State and the needs of other individuals with 
     disabilities; and
       Whereas, in 2015, the majority of direct support 
     professionals are employed in home-based and community-based 
     settings, and this trend is projected to increase over the 
     next decade: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning September 13, 2015, 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 individuals with disabilities and 
     their families in the United States;
       (4) commends direct support professionals as integral to 
     the long-term support of and services for individuals with 
     disabilities; and
       (5) finds that the successful implementation of the public 
     policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the 
     United States depends on the dedication of direct support 
     professionals.

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to submit, with my colleague 
Senator Collins, a resolution designating the week beginning September 
13, 2015, as ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition 
Week.'' The Senate has passed a similar resolution each year for the 
past seven years, and National Direct Support Professionals Recognition 
Week holds special significance this year as we celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA.
  Direct support professionals play an incredibly important role in 
providing essential community supports to millions of Americans with 
disabilities. These dedicated workers assist individuals with 
disabilities with daily life activities such as dressing, eating, and 
bathing, and they help ensure that people with disabilities can be 
active participants in their communities.
  Let me share with you the story of Ed Wainwright, Jr., a direct 
support professional who was recognized this year for his incredible 
work and dedication when he was given Maryland's Direct Support 
Professional, DSP, of the Year Award by the American Network of 
Community Options and Resources, ANCOR. Ed works for New Horizons 
Supported Services in Upper Marlboro, MD, and has been a direct support 
professional for over 6 years. He and his staff provide essential 
support to 33 individuals with disabilities. Ed's primary job is to 
teach and reinforce practical life skills for individuals with 
intellectual and developmental disabilities by integrating strategic 
goal setting with daily living, with the goal of achieving self-
sufficiency.
  Ed is committed to helping individuals with disabilities realize 
their full potential. For example, Ed once worked with a man who had 
suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident as a youth. After 
the accident, he could not walk, and the prognosis for regaining his 
mobility was poor. After work, Ed would often take this young man to 
the gym with him to help rebuild his strength, on Ed's own time

[[Page S6404]]

and using his personal gym membership. Recognizing this young man's 
creative abilities, Ed also took it upon himself to research and apply 
for a grant to help pay for his college expenses. Thanks in large part 
to Ed's commitment and dedication, that young man is a now graphic 
designer and, as he continues to work on his rehabilitation, taking 
steps again is a real possibility.
  As Ed's story demonstrates, the job of a direct support professional 
is not easy. The hours are often long, and the wages are low. The job 
can be physically laborious, as well as emotionally draining. The 
reward for direct support professionals, however, is that they are able 
to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and help fulfill 
the promise of the ADA by making it possible for these Americans to 
participate in their communities to the fullest extent possible.
  Today, we have the opportunity to recognize the millions of direct 
support professionals who provide essential services to individuals 
with disabilities, to thank them for their commitment and dedication, 
and to express our appreciation for the critically important work they 
do every day throughout our country.
  I urge my colleagues to join me and Senator Collins in expressing our 
appreciation for our country's direct support professionals and 
supporting the resolution designating the week beginning September 13, 
2015, as ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week.''

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