III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 312 

Designating the week beginning September 8, 2019, as ‘‘National Direct 

Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. KING, Mr. BROWN, Mr. MARKEY, 

Mr. MURPHY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. 

HASSAN, Mr. JONES, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CASEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. 

HARRIS, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. ROSEN, and Mr. KAINE) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning September 8, 2019, as 

‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

Whereas direct support professionals, including direct care 

workers, personal assistants, personal attendants, inhome support workers, and paraprofessionals, are key to 

providing publicly funded, long-term support and services 

for millions of individuals with disabilities; 

Whereas direct support professionals provide essential support that ensures that individuals with disabilities are— 

(1) included as a valued part of the communities in 

which those individuals live; 

(2) supported at home, at work, and in the communities of the United States; and 


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(3) empowered to live with dignity; 

Whereas all communities have a stake in ensuring that individuals with disabilities thrive through the connections of 

the individuals to their families, friends, and communities, fostered by the direct support professionals of 

those individuals; 

Whereas home and community-based services driven by the 

direct support professional workforce can result in cost 

efficiency and better outcomes relating to support and 

services for individuals with disabilities; 

Whereas direct support professionals support individuals with 

disabilities by helping those individuals make person-centered choices that lead to meaningful, productive lives; 

Whereas direct support professionals build close, respectful, 

and trusting relationships with individuals with disabilities; 

Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 

of individualized support to individuals with disabilities, 

including— 

(1) assisting with the preparation of meals; 

(2) helping with medication; 

(3) assisting with bathing, dressing, and other aspects of daily living; 

(4) assisting with access to the environment of the 

individuals; 

(5) providing transportation to school, work, religious, and recreational activities; 

(6) helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting with financial matters, medical appointments, and 

personal interests; and 

(7) meeting complex behavioral and medical needs; 


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Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing shortage of direct support professionals throughout the United 

States; 

Whereas direct support professionals are a critical element in 

supporting— 

(1) individuals who are receiving health care services 

for severe chronic health conditions and individuals with 

functional limitations; and 

(2) the successful transition of individuals from 

medical events to post-acute care and long-term support 

and services; 

Whereas many direct support professionals are the primary 

financial providers for their families; 

Whereas direct support professionals are hardworking, taxpaying citizens who provide an important service to people with disabilities in the United States, yet many continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate benefits, and 

have limited opportunities for advancement, resulting in 

high turnover and vacancy rates that adversely affect the 

quality of support, safety, and health of individuals with 

disabilities; 

Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in 

Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999)— 

(1) recognized the importance of the deinstitutionalization of, and community-based services for, individuals with disabilities; and 

(2) held that, under the Americans with Disabilities 

Act of 1990 (42 U.S. 12101 et seq.), a State must provide community-based services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities if— 

(A) the community-based services are appropriate; 


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(B) the affected person does not oppose receiving the community-based services; and 

(C) the community-based services can be reasonably accommodated after the community has 

taken into account the resources available to the 

State and the needs of other individuals with disabilities in the State; and 

Whereas, in 2019, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings and that trend will increase over the next decade: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning September 8, 

3 2019, as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals 

4 Recognition Week’’; 

5 (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of 

6 direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of 

7 individuals with disabilities of all ages; 

8 (3) appreciates the contribution of direct sup9 port professionals in supporting individuals with dis10 abilities and their families in the United States; 

11 (4) commends direct support professionals for 

12 being integral to the provision of long-term support 

13 and services for individuals with disabilities; 

14 (5) encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics 

15 of the Department of Labor to collect data specific 

16 to direct support professionals; and 


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1 (6) finds that the successful implementation of 

2 the public policies affecting individuals with disabil3 ities in the United States can depend on the dedica4 tion of direct support professionals. 

Æ 


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