,,iii  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #ecb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ca1 #bjad ,mr4 
,c>d9 7= himself1 ,ms4 ,coll9s1 ,mr4    
,blum5?al1 ,mr4 ,br[n1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4
 ,frank51 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mr4 ,k+1 ,ms4
 ,klobu*>1 ,mr4 ,man*91 ,mr4 ,m>key1    
,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,portman1 ,mr4       
,rockefell]1 & ,ms4 ,w>r57 submitt$ !   
foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 consid]$ &     
agre$ to  ,,resolution  ,designat+ !    
week beg9n+ ,septemb] #g1 #bjad1 z      
,national ,direct ,support ,pr(essionals
 ,recognition ,week4  ,:]eas 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 support & s]vices = millions ( 
individuals ) disabilities2 ,:]eas      
direct support pr(essionals mu/ build a 
close1 respectful1 & tru/$ relation%ip )
 individuals ) disabilities2 ,:]eas     
direct support pr(essionals assi/       

individuals ) disabilities ) intimate   
p]sonal c>e assi/ance on a daily basis2 
,:]eas direct support pr(essionals      
provide a broad range ( individualiz$   
support1 includ+-- 7#a7 prep>ation (    
meals2  7#b7 help+ ) m$ications2  7#c7  
assi/+ ) ba?+ & dress+2  7#d7 assi/+    
individuals ) physical disabilities )   
access to _! environm5t2  7#e7 provid+  
transportation to s*ool1 "w1 religi\s1 &
 recreational activities2 &  7#f7 help+ 
) g5]al aspects ( daily liv+1 su* z     
f9ancial matt]s1 m$ical appo9tm5ts1 &   
p]sonal int]e/s2 ,:]eas direct support  
pr(essionals provide ess5tial support to
 help keep individuals ) disabilities   
connect$ to family1 fri5ds1 & community2
 ,:]eas direct support pr(essionals     
support individuals ) disabilities 9    
mak+ *oices t lead to mean+ful1         
productive lives2 ,:]eas direct support 
pr(essionals are ! key to help+         
individuals ) disabilities to live      
successfully 9 ! community1 & to avoid m
 co/ly in/itutional c>e2 ,:]eas !       

p>ticipation ( direct support           
pr(essionals 9 m$ical c>e plann+ is     
critical to ! successful transition f   
m$ical ev5ts to po/-acute c>e & long-t]m
 support & s]vices2 ,:]eas ! majority ( 
direct support pr(essionals are ! prim>y
 f9ancial provid]s = _! families & (t5  
"w multiple jobs to make ends meet2     
,:]eas direct support pr(essionals are a
 critical elem5t 9 support+ individuals 
:o are receiv+ heal? c>e s]vices = sev]e
 *ronic heal? conditions & individuals )
 ) functional limitations2 ,:]eas :ile  
direct support pr(essionals "w & pay    
taxes1 _m direct support pr(essionals   
e>n pov]ty-level wages & are !re=e      
eligible = ! same ,f$]al & ,/ate public 
assi/ance programs on :i* individuals ) 
disabilities s]v$ by direct support     
pr(essionals mu/ also dep5d2 ,:]eas     
,f$]al & ,/ate policies ass]t ! "r (    
c]ta9 individuals ) a disability to live
 9 a resid5tial sett+ 9 ! community1 or 
an in/itutional sett+ ( _! *oice1 & !   
,supreme ,c\rt ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 9     

,olm/ead v4 ,l4,c41 #ebg ,u4,s4 #eha    
7#aiii71 confirm$ t "r = c]ta9          
individuals2 ,:]eas1 z ( #bjad1 !       
majority ( direct support pr(essionals  
are employ$ 9 home & community-bas$     
sett+s & ?is majority is project$ to    
increase ov] ! next decade2 ,:]eas !re  
is a docum5t$ & increas+ critical       
%ortage ( direct support pr(essionals   
?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 & ,:]eas _m    
direct support pr(essionals are =c$ to  
leave _! jobs due to inadequate wages & 
b5efits & limit$ opportunities =        
advancem5t1 creat+ demon/rat$ high      
turnov] & vacancy rates1 :i* adv]sely   
affect ! quality ( support & ! safety & 
heal? ( individuals ) disabilities3 ,n[1
 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7        
designates ! week beg9n+ ,septemb] #g1  
#bjad1 z ,national ,direct ,support     
,pr(essionals ,recognition ,week2  7#b7 
recognizes ! d$ication ( direct support 
pr(essionals & ! vital role direct      
support pr(essionals h 9 enhanc+ ! lives
 ( individuals ) disabilities ( all     

ages2  7#c7 appreciates ! contribution (
 direct support pr(essionals 9 support+ 
individuals ) disabilities & _! families
 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7 id5tifies     
direct support pr(essionals z integral  
to long-t]m support & s]vices =         
individuals ) disabilities2 &  7#e7 f9ds
 t ! successful implem5tation ( ! public
 policies affect+ individuals )         
disabilities 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates dep5ds on
 ! d$ication ( direct support           
pr(essionals4