IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 336 

Expressing support for designation of the week beginning September 8, 2013, 

as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 

Mr. FITZPATRICK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of the week beginning 

September 8, 2013, as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

Whereas direct support professionals, direct care workers, 

personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support 

workers, and paraprofessionals (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘direct support professionals’’) are the primary 

providers of publicly funded long-term supports and services for millions of individuals; 

Whereas a direct support professional must build a close, 

trusted relationship with an individual with disabilities; 

Whereas a direct support professional assists an individual 

with disabilities with the most intimate needs on a daily 

basis; 


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•HRES 336 IH 

Whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range 

of support, including— 

(1) preparing meals; 

(2) managing medications; 

(3) bathing; 

(4) dressing; 

(5) helping with mobility; 

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

(7) helping with general daily affairs; 

Whereas a direct support professional provides essential support to help keep an individual with disabilities connected 

to the family and community of the individual; 

Whereas direct support professionals enable individuals with 

disabilities to live meaningful, productive lives; 

Whereas a direct support professional is the key to allowing 

an individual with disabilities to live successfully in the 

community and avoid more costly institutional care; 

Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are female, and many are the sole breadwinners of their families; 

Whereas direct support professionals work and pay taxes, but 

many are impoverished and are eligible for the same Federal and State public assistance programs on which the 

individuals with disabilities served by the direct support 

professionals must depend; 

Whereas Federal and State policies, as well as the Supreme 

Court in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), assert 

the right of an individual to live in the home and community of the individual; 


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Whereas, in 2013, the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings, and this trend is projected to increase during this 

decade; 

Whereas there is a documented critical and growing shortage 

of direct support professionals in every community 

throughout the United States; 

Whereas many direct support professionals are forced to 

leave jobs due to inadequate wages and benefits, creating 

high turnover and vacancy rates that research demonstrates adversely affects the quality of support provided to individuals with disabilities; and 

Whereas the week beginning September 8, 2013, would be an 

appropriate week to designate as ‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Di3 rect Support Professionals Recognition Week’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of 

5 direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of 

6 individuals of all ages with disabilities; 

7 (3) appreciates the contribution of direct sup8 port professionals in supporting the needs that are 

9 beyond the capacities of millions of families in the 

10 United States; 


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1 (4) commends direct support professionals as 

2 integral in supporting the long-term support and 

3 services system of the United States; and 

4 (5) finds that the successful implementation of 

5 the public policies of the United States depends on 

6 the dedication of direct support professionals. 

Æ 


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