,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #cab ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ab1 #bjai ,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,ms4 ,harris1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,rosen1 and ,mr4 ,kaine7 submitted the following resolution2 which was considered and agreed to ,,resolution ,designating the week beginning ,september #h1 #bjai1 as ,national ,direct ,support ,professionals ,recognition ,week4 ,whereas direct support professionals1 including direct care workers1 personal assistants1 personal attendants1 in-home support workers1 and paraprofessionals1 are key to providing publicly funded1 long-term support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas direct support professionals provide essential support that ensures that individuals with disabilities are-- 7#a7 included as a valued part of the communities in which those individuals live2 7#b7 supported at home1 at work1 and in the communities of the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 empowered to live with dignity2 ,whereas all communities have a stake in ensuring that individuals with disabilities thrive through the connections of the individuals to their families1 friends1 and communities1 fostered by the direct support professionals of those individuals2 ,whereas home and community-based services driven by the direct support professional workforce can result in cost efficiency and better outcomes relating to support and services for individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas direct support professionals support individuals with disabilities by helping those individuals make person-centered choices that lead to meaningful1 productive lives2 ,whereas direct support professionals build close1 respectful1 and trusting relationships with individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas direct support professionals provide a broad range of individualized support to individuals with disabilities1 including-- 7#a7 assisting with the preparation of meals2 7#b7 helping with medication2 7#c7 assisting with bathing1 dressing1 and other aspects of daily living2 7#d7 assisting with access to the environment of the individuals2 7#e7 providing transportation to school1 work1 religious1 and recreational activities2 7#f7 helping with general daily affairs1 such as assisting with financial matters1 medical appointments1 and personal interests2 and 7#g7 meeting complex behavioral and medical needs2 ,whereas there is a documented critical and increasing shortage of direct support professionals throughout the ,united ,states2 ,whereas direct support professionals are a critical element in supporting-- 7#a7 individuals who are receiving health care services for severe chronic health conditions and individuals with functional limitations2 and 7#b7 the successful transition of individuals from medical events to post-acute care and long-term support and services2 ,whereas many direct support professionals are the primary financial providers for their families2 ,whereas direct support professionals are hardworking1 taxpaying citizens who provide an important service to people with disabilities in the ,united ,states1 yet many continue to earn low wages1 receive inadequate benefits1 and have limited opportunities for advancement1 resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates that adversely affect the quality of support1 safety1 and health of individuals with disabilities2 ,whereas the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states1 in ,olmstead v4 ,l4,c41 #ebg ,u4,s4 #eha 7#aiii7-- 7#a7 recognized the importance of the deinstitutionalization of1 and community-based services for1 individuals with disabilities2 and 7#b7 held that1 under the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4 #abaja et seq471 a ,state must provide community-based services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities if-- 7,a7 the community-based services are appropriate2 7,b7 the affected person does not oppose receiving the community-based services2 and 7,c7 the community-based services can be reasonably accommodated after the community has taken into account the resources available to the ,state and the needs of other individuals with disabilities in the ,state2 and ,whereas1 in #bjai1 the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home- and community-based settings and that trend will increase over the next decade3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 designates the week beginning ,september #h1 #bjai1 as ,national ,direct ,support ,professionals ,recognition ,week2 7#b7 recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct support professionals 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 commends direct support professionals for being integral to the provision of long-term support and services for individuals with disabilities2 7#e7 encourages the ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics of the ,department of ,labor to collect data specific to direct support professionals2 and 7#f7 finds that the successful implementation of the public policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the ,united ,states can depend on the dedication of direct support professionals4