III 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 245 

Designating the week beginning September 13, 2015, as ‘‘National Direct 

Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 5, 2015 

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, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. FRANKEN, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. CASEY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week beginning September 13, 2015, as 

‘‘National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week’’. 

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; 


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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; 


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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; 


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(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 communitybased settings, and this trend is projected to increase 

over the next decade: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the week beginning September 

3 13, 2015, 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 as 

12 integral to the long-term support of and services for 

13 individuals with disabilities; and 

14 (5) finds that the successful implementation of 

15 the public policies affecting individuals with disabilVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:07 Sep 16, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR245.ATS SR245

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1 ities in the United States depends on the dedication 

2 of direct support professionals. 

Æ 


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