,,iii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #bjh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ca1 #bjac ,mr4 
,c>d9 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,coll9s1 ,ms4    
,w>r51 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mr4 ,br[n1 ,mr4 
,rockefell]1 & ,mr4 ,murphy7 submitt$ ! 
foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ &     
agre$ to  ,,resolution  ,designat+ !    
week beg9n+ ,septemb] #h1 #bjac1 z      
,national ,direct ,support ,pr(essionals
 ,recognition ,week4  ,:]eas direct     
support pr(essionals1 direct c>e work]s1
 p]sonal assi/ants1 p]sonal att5dants1  
9-home support work]s1 & p>apr(essionals
 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is preamble z direct     
support pr(essionals7 are ! prim>y      
provid]s ( publicly fund$ long-t]m      
supports & s]vices = millions (         
individuals2 ,:]eas a direct support    
pr(essional mu/ build a close1 tru/$    
relation%ip ) an individual )           
disabilities2 ,:]eas a direct support   
pr(essional assi/s an individual )      
disabilities ) ! mo/ intimate ne$s on a 
daily basis2 ,:]eas direct support      

pr(essionals provide a broad range (    
support1 includ+--  7#a7 prep>+ meals2  
7#b7 manag+ m$ications2  7#c7 ba?+2     
7#d7 dress+2  7#e7 help+ ) mobility2    
7#f7 provid+ transportation to s*ool1   
"w1 & religi\s1 & recreational          
activities2 &  7#g7 help+ ) g5]al daily 
affairs2  ,:]eas a direct support       
pr(essional provides ess5tial support to
 help keep an individual ) disabilities 
connect$ to ! family & community ( !    
individual2 ,:]eas direct support       
pr(essionals enable individuals )       
disabilities to live mean+ful1          
productive lives2 ,:]eas a direct       
support pr(essional is ! key to all[+ an
 individual ) disabilities to live      
successfully 9 ! community & avoid m    
co/ly in/itutional c>e2 ,:]eas !        
majority ( direct support pr(essionals  
are female1 & _m are ! sole breadw9n]s (
 _! families2 ,:]eas direct support     
pr(essionals "w & pay taxes1 b _m are   
impov]i%$ & are eligible = ! same ,f$]al
 & ,/ate public assi/ance programs on   

:i* ! individuals ) disabilities s]v$ by
 ! direct support pr(essionals mu/      
dep5d2 ,:]eas ,f$]al & ,/ate policies1 z
 well z ! ,supreme ,c\rt 9 ,olm/ead v4  
,l4,c41 #ebg ,u4,s4 #eha 7#aiii71 ass]t 
! "r ( an individual to live 9 ! home & 
community ( ! individual2 ,:]eas1 9     
#bjac1 ! majority ( direct support      
pr(essionals are employ$ 9 home- &      
community-bas$ sett+s1 & ?is tr5d is    
project$ to increase dur+ ?is decade2   
,:]eas !re is a docum5t$ critical & gr[+
 %ortage ( direct support pr(essionals 9
 e community ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 & 
,:]eas _m direct support pr(essionals   
are =c$ to leave jobs due to inadequate 
wages & b5efits1 creat+ high turnov] &  
vacancy rates t rese>* demon/rates      
adv]sely affects ! quality ( support    
provid$ to individuals ) disabilities3  
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate--  7#a7   
designates ! week beg9n+ ,septemb] #h1  
#bjac1 z ,national ,direct ,support     
,pr(essionals ,recognition ,week2  7#b7 
recognizes ! d$ication & vital role (   

direct support pr(essionals 9 enhanc+ ! 
lives ( individuals ( all ages )        
disabilities2  7#c7 appreciates !       
contribution ( direct support           
pr(essionals 9 support+ ! ne$s t are    
beyond ! capacities ( millions (        
families 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7       
comm5ds direct support pr(essionals z   
integral 9 support+ ! long-t]m support &
 s]vices sy/em ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &     
7#e7 f9ds t ! successful implem5tation (
 ! public policies ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
dep5ds on ! d$ication ( direct support  
pr(essionals4