[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 149 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4804-S4805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed immediately to consideration of S. Res. 767, which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 767) designating the week beginning 
     September 11, 2022, as ``National Direct Support 
     Professionals Recognition Week''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise today to mark the week beginning 
on September 11, 2022, as National Direct Support Professionals 
Recognition Week. Direct support professionals assist millions of 
individuals living with disabilities to perform a wide range of

[[Page S4805]]

essential daily tasks such as meal preparation, transportation, and 
medication management. Direct support professionals provide critical 
home- and community-based services--HCBS--that allow individuals to 
stay connected with their communities.
  As direct support professionals stepped up during the pandemic and 
provided care while facing increased personal risks as frontline 
workers, many faced long-standing difficulties such as inadequate wages 
and benefits. These challenges disproportionately affect racial and 
ethnic minorities, who comprise 62 percent of the home care workforce, 
which includes direct support professionals. These issues have led to 
high turnover and vacancy rates, contributing to a growing shortage of 
direct support professionals.
  Even as this shortage persists and millions of jobs in the field 
remain open, demand for direct support professionals is expected to 
increase by at least 1.4 million new direct care jobs by 2026, 
according to PHI. An insufficient number of direct support 
professionals will likely mean longer wait lists for individuals 
seeking assistance, force providers to turn away new referrals, or 
discontinue programs and services. These circumstances hurt quality of 
care and put further stress on family caregivers.
  Under President Biden's leadership, we have taken steps to invest in 
home- and community-based services by building up the home care 
workforce and expanding access to care. I am proud to have voted for 
the American Rescue Plan Act, which--among many critical provisions--
included $12.7 billion for HCBS. I am also a cosponsor of the Better 
Care Better Jobs Act, which would build on the funding from American 
Rescue Plan Act by continuing enhanced Medicaid funding for HCBS for 
States that expand access to these services and invest in the 
workforce, such as the direct support professionals.
  It is more important than ever that we take the time to recognize the 
work of those who choose to be direct support professionals. I would 
like to congratulate two Marylanders who were recognized this year for 
their work as direct support professionals: Maria Swift of Penn-Mar 
Humans Services received the American Network of Community Options and 
Resources' National Direct Support Professional of the Year Award and 
Tammy Wright of Consumer Direct Care Network received the Maryland 
State award. Maria and Tammy are making an enormous difference and I 
appreciate their service to others. I would also like to thank Senators 
Collins, Blumenthal, Brown, Casey, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, Menendez, 
Smith, Van Hollen, and Warren for joining me in showing our 
appreciation for direct support professionals across the Nation and 
recognizing the essential role they play in our healthcare system.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, 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 resolution (S. Res. 767) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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