Current Bills
The U.S. Senate designates the week of September 8th as National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week!
On Monday evening, July 14th, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)-joined by 10 original cosponsors-introduced and the Senate passed a Senate Resolution by unanimous consent that formally recognizes the week of September 8, 2008 as DSP Recognition Week (S.Res. 613). As part of ANCOR's National Advocacy Campaign, ANCOR worked with Senator Nelson and key ANCOR members on this resolution to coincide with our annual Governmental Activities Seminar and DSPs to DC events September 7-9th. The resolution is a tremendous achievement and will be a terrific way to honor dedicated DSPs around the country, many of whom will join us in Washington for the Seminar and DSPs to DC events. Special thanks to the original cosponsors who joined with Senator Nelson in introducing the resolution.
- Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
- Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)
- Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)
- Senator John Kerry (D-MA)
- Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS)
- Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
- Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
- Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
- Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY)
- Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
With support from its lead sponsors, U.S. Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Lee Terry (R-NE), ANCOR’s National Advocacy Campaign helped introduce the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007 into the 110th session of the United States House of Representatives and is working behind-the-scenes to introduce similar legislation in the United States Senate some time later this year.
The Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act is intended to help stabilize the direct support workforce, which currently experiences turnover rates as high as 86% in some residential settings. This legislation gives each state the option to work collaboratively with the stakeholders in their disability community to develop a long-term plan for addressing the wage issue while getting a short-term boost in federal support.
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