[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 146 (Thursday, September 12, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5482-S5483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 312, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 312) designating the week beginning 
     September 8, 2019, as ``National Direct Support Professionals 
     Recognition Week''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues Senators 
Collins, King, Brown, Markey, Murphy, Menendez, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, 
Hassan, Jones, Van Hollen, Casey, Baldwin, Harris, Murray, Rosen, and 
Kaine to recognize the week beginning September 8, 2019, as National 
Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week. Direct support 
professionals are an invaluable part of our Nation's healthcare system, 
caring for the most vulnerable Americans, including the chronically 
ill, seniors, and those living with a disability. Direct support 
professionals include, among others, those whose titles include home 
caregiver, personal care assistant, home care worker, or home health 
aide. These varying titles speaks to the broad areas of support that 
are integral to the work of direct support professionals. With the 
assistance of direct support professionals, these individuals can 
perform daily activities that many people take for granted, such as 
eating, bathing, dressing, and leaving the house. The work of direct 
support professionals ensures that these individuals can be active 
participants in their communities.
  Let me share with you the experience of Marian Mulbah-Poquee, a 
direct support professional who was recognized this year for her 
incredible work and dedication when she was given Maryland's Direct 
Support Professional of the Year Award by the American Network of 
Community Options and Resources, ANCOR. Marian has been described as 
``a tireless advocate for her ladies,'' providing the women she serves 
with the space and choice to lead full and independent lives.
  Marian supports her clients by teaching them skills that enable them 
to participate in their communities to the fullest extent possible. For 
example, Marian teaches her clients safety skills, gardening, and basic 
home care so they can spend more time living independently. Marian also 
encourages her clients to actively participate in civic life. This was 
best exemplified by a trip her clients took to Annapolis last year for 
Developmental Disability Day. Marian supported her clients as they met 
with and engaged their local representatives to discuss issues that 
affect the disability community in Maryland. Marian's commitment to 
simultaneously supporting and empowering her clients to actively 
participate in the public sphere speaks to the very core of what 
defines direct support professionals.
  Marian's story describes a career that is fulfilling, but one that 
oftentimes is not easy for Direct support professionals like her. 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 Americans with Disabilities Act by making it possible for these 
Americans to participate in their communities to the fullest extent 
possible.

[[Page S5483]]

  In our country, we are incredibly fortunate to have millions of 
service-oriented individuals who are willing to rise to the task of 
becoming a direct support professional. According to the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, the employment of DSPs is projected to grow by an 
average of 41 percent from 2016 to 2026, compared to a 7 percent 
average growth rate for all occupations during that period. The demand 
will only continue to increase over time; the Baby Boomer generation 
will result in the doubling of the population of adults ages 65 and 
older by 2050. The increased demand for direct support professionals 
has created shortages in some areas, which can place strains on 
patients and their families or result in medical issues that could have 
been avoided.
  Unfortunately, direct support professionals are often forced to leave 
the jobs they love due to low wages and excessive, difficult work 
hours. Many direct support professionals rely on public benefits, and 
some must work multiple jobs in order to provide for themselves and 
their families. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we work to 
ensure that these hardworking individuals have the income and emotional 
support they need and deserve.
  I urge my colleagues to join me and Senators Collins, King, Brown, 
Markey, Murphy, Menendez, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, Hassan, Jones, Van 
Hollen, Casey, Baldwin, Harris, Murray, Rosen, and Kaine in expressing 
our appreciation for the critically important work of our country's 
direct support professionals, in thanking them for their commitment and 
dedication, and in supporting the resolution designating the week 
beginning September 8, 2019, as National Direct Support Professionals 
Recognition Week.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 312) was agreed to.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to 
and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the 
table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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