108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 94
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that commu-
nity inclusion and enhanced lives for individuals
with mental retardation or other developmental
disabilities is at serious risk because of the crisis
in recruiting and retaining direct support profes-
sionals, which impedes the availability of a stable,
quality direct support workforce.
108TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 94
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas there are more than 8,000,000 Americans who have
mental retardation or other developmental disabilities, in-
cluding mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, Down
syndrome, epilepsy, and other related conditions;
Whereas individuals with mental retardation or other develop-
mental disabilities have substantial limitations on their
functional capacities, including limitations in two or more
•HCON 94 EH
of the areas of self-care, receptive and expressive lan-
guage, learning, mobility, self-direction, independent liv-
ing, and economic self-sufficiency, as well as the contin-
uous need for individually planned and coordinated serv-
ices;
Whereas for the past two decades individuals with mental re-
tardation or other developmental disabilities and their
families have increasingly expressed their desire to live
and work in their communities, joining the mainstream
of American life;
Whereas the Supreme Court, in its Olmstead decision, af-
firmed the right of individuals with mental retardation or
other developmental disabilities to receive community-
based services as an alternative to institutional care;
Whereas the demand for community supports and services is
rapidly growing, as States comply with the Olmstead de-
cision and continue to move more individuals from insti-
tutions into the community;
Whereas the demand will also continue to grow as family
caregivers age, individuals with mental retardation or
other developmental disabilities live longer, waiting lists
grow, and services expand;
Whereas outside of families, private providers that employ di-
rect support professionals deliver the majority of supports
and services for individuals with mental retardation or
other developmental disabilities in the community;
Whereas direct support professionals provide a wide range of
supportive services to individuals with mental retardation
or other developmental disabilities on a day-to-day basis,
including habilitation, health needs, personal care and hy-
giene, employment, transportation, recreation, and house-
•HCON 94 EH
Whereas this workforce shortage is the most significant bar-
rier to implementing the Olmstead decision and under-
mines the expansion of community integration as called
for by President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative, placing
the community support infrastructure at risk: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This resolution may be cited as the ‘‘Direct Support
Professional Recognition Resolution’’.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SERVICES OF DI-
RECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS TO INDIVID-
UALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that the Federal Gov-
ernment and the States should make it a priority to pro-
mote a stable, quality direct support workforce for individ-
uals with mental retardation or other developmental dis-
abilities that advances our Nation’s commitment to com-
munity integration for such individuals and to personal
security for them and their families.
Passed the House of Representatives November 4,
2003.
Attest:
Clerk.