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Urge House Members to Support H.R. 1279
One of the biggest issues facing persons with disabilities that need assistance to remain in the community is the availability of good, dependable aides. Keeping the same aide is also very important. Today you have the change to MAKE A DIFFERENCE by helping to address this problem.
Direct Service Support Professional Bill (HR 1279) needs co-sponsors. If passed by the Congress, this bill will increase Medicaid funding to the states to increase wages (reimbursement) for direct service, direct support workers. Contact your Representative, and ask them to respond to the “Dear Colleague” letter from Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Lee Terry (R-NE) by co-sponsoring this important bill.
Take Action by sending a message to Representative through The Arc of the United States website. You can use the message provided in the text section in whole or in part but be sure to put in your home address so it can be delivered to your representative.
Also please let us know if you get a response, positive or negative from the Representative.
Thank you in advance for your advocacy!
Background:
Today millions of people with disabilities rely on direct support workers to assist them in managing their daily lives so they can live and work in their communities. These workers assist people with disabilities with taking daily medications, dressing, preparing and eating meals, getting to work, gaining life skills and handling daily affairs.
Unfortunately, these positions have a high turnover rate each year because of poor wages and job demands, putting the quality of life for people with disabilities at risk. And demand for these workers is growing - hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities are on waiting lists for services and the demand will grow 62 percent by 2010 as these Americans get older.
To address these problems, Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Lee Terry (R-NE) introduced the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act (H.R. 1279).
Together, The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy, ANCOR and Lutheran Services in America formed a national advocacy campaign to press the U.S. Congress to enact this bill for people with disabilities.
Status:
H.R. 1279 was introduced on March 1, 2007 and currently the bill has 25 co-sponsors. Rep. Capps (D-CA) and Rep. Terry (R-NE) are sending a letter to all Members of the House of Representatives (known as a “Dear Colleague” letter) asking each member to co-sponsor the bill.
Take Action:
To help ensure the success of the Dear Colleague letter, you need to let your U.S. Representative know that H.R. 1279 is a top priority. Please click the Take Action link to send an email to your Representative TODAY to make sure people with disabilities get the quality supports and services they need and deserve.
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