,,iii  #aacth ,,congress  #b;d ,session 
,s4 ,,res4 #ecb  ,,in ,,the ,,senate    
,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states  ,july #ca1
 #bjad ,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,ms4  
,collins1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,brown1
 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 ,franken1 ,mr4       
,grassley1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 
,mr4 ,manchin1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4       
,murphy1 ,mr4 ,portman1 ,mr4            
,rockefeller1 and ,ms4 ,warren7         
submitted the following resolution2     
which was considered and agreed to      
,,resolution  ,designating the week     
beginning ,september #g1 #bjad1 as      
,national ,direct ,support              
,professionals ,recognition ,week4      
,whereas direct care workers1 personal  
assistants1 personal attendants1 in-home
 support workers1 and paraprofessionals 
7referred to in this preamble as direct 
support professionals7 are the primary  
providers of publicly-funded long-term  
support and services for millions of    
individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas 
direct support professionals must build 

a close1 respectful1 and trusted        
relationship with individuals with      
disabilities2 ,whereas direct support   
professionals assist individuals with   
disabilities with intimate personal care
 assistance on a daily basis2 ,whereas  
direct support professionals provide a  
broad range of individualized support1  
including-- 7#a7 preparation of meals2  
7#b7 helping with medications2  7#c7    
assisting with bathing and dressing2    
7#d7 assisting individuals with physical
 disabilities with access to their      
environment2  7#e7 providing            
transportation to school1 work1         
religious1 and recreational activities2 
and  7#f7 helping with general aspects  
of daily living1 such as financial      
matters1 medical appointments1 and      
personal interests2 ,whereas direct     
support professionals provide essential 
support to help keep individuals with   
disabilities connected to family1       
friends1 and community2 ,whereas direct 
support professionals support           

individuals with disabilities in making 
choices that lead to meaningful1        
productive lives2 ,whereas direct       
support professionals are the key to    
helping individuals with disabilities to
 live successfully in the community1 and
 to avoid more costly institutional     
care2 ,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 services2 ,whereas the      
majority of direct support professionals
 are the primary financial providers for
 their families and often work multiple 
jobs to make ends meet2 ,whereas direct 
support professionals are a critical    
element in supporting individuals who   
are receiving health care services for  
severe chronic health conditions and    
individuals with with functional        
limitations2 ,whereas while direct      
support professionals work and pay      
taxes1 many direct support professionals

 earn poverty-level wages and are       
therefore eligible for the same ,federal
 and ,state public assistance programs  
on which individuals with disabilities  
served by direct support professionals  
must also depend2 ,whereas ,federal and 
,state policies assert the right of     
certain individuals with a disability to
 live in a residential setting in the   
community1 or an institutional setting  
of their choice1 and the ,supreme ,court
 of the ,united ,states1 in ,olmstead v4
 ,l4,c41 #ebg ,u4,s4 #eha 7#aiii71      
confirmed that right for certain        
individuals2 ,whereas1 as of #bjad1 the 
majority of direct support professionals
 are employed in home and               
community-based settings and this       
majority is projected to increase over  
the next decade2 ,whereas there is a    
documented and increasing critical      
shortage of direct support professionals
 throughout the ,united ,states2 and    
,whereas many direct support            
professionals are forced to leave their 

jobs due to inadequate wages and        
benefits and limited opportunities for  
advancement1 creating demonstrated high 
turnover and vacancy rates1 which       
adversely affect the quality of support 
and the safety and health of individuals
 with disabilities3 ,now1 therefore1 be 
it  ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates 
the week beginning ,september #g1 #bjad1
 as ,national ,direct ,support          
,professionals ,recognition ,week2  7#b7
 recognizes the dedication of direct    
support professionals and the vital role
 direct support professionals have in   
enhancing the lives of individuals with 
disabilities of all ages2  7#c7         
appreciates the contribution of direct  
support professionals in supporting     
individuals with disabilities and their 
families in the ,united ,states2  7#d7  
identifies direct support professionals 
as integral to long-term support and    
services for individuals with           
disabilities2 and  7#e7 finds that the  
successful implementation of the public 

policies affecting individuals with     
disabilities in the ,united ,states     
depends on the dedication of direct     
support professionals4