WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, and Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25) introduced the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation to confront the national workforce shortage facing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live independently, participate fully in their communities, and receive consistent, high-quality support.
U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. The bill is endorsed by the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR).
Direct Support Professionals provide an essential array of day-to-day services—from communication support and independent-living assistance to job coaching and community integration. Yet with home- and community-based providers facing a 39% turnover rate, states lack the accurate workforce data needed to support a stable DSP pipeline. Because DSPs are not currently recognized as a distinct occupation in the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system, policymakers lack the basic information needed to design smarter training, recruitment, and retention strategies.
The Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act addresses this challenge by requiring the Office of Management and Budget to consider the creation of a distinct occupational category for DSPs within the federal Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Establishing this classification—currently absent despite the specialized nature of DSP work—would provide policymakers with the data necessary to understand workforce shortages, strengthen training programs, and drive more effective recruitment and retention efforts.
“We cannot solve a workforce crisis we cannot accurately measure. Families who rely on home- and community-based services know the difference a great Direct Support Professional makes. DSPs are the steady hands and trusted partners who make dignity, independence, and opportunity possible. Yet our system still fails to recognize their specialized work, leaving states without the data needed to build a stable workforce. Our bipartisan bill changes that—giving DSPs the classification they deserve and laying the groundwork for stronger recruitment, better retention, and more reliable support for every individual with a disability,” said Fitzpatrick.
“Direct support professionals help people with disabilities live with dignity and independence, but their work is too often overlooked,” said Morelle. “That’s why I’m proud to support the bipartisan Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act to improve hiring, retention, and recognition for these critical workers. And I’ll keep fighting to make sure they get the respect and support they deserve.”
Barbara Merrill, Chief Executive Officer of ANCOR , stated: “This legislation is a crucial next step in addressing the long-standing recruitment and retention crisis that has left too few direct support professionals (DSPs) to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in home- and community-based settings. By officially recognizing DSPs in the occupational classification system, this bill will enable much-needed data collection and help support policies to strengthen the workforce. We thank Representatives Fitzpatrick and Morelle as well as Senators Collins and Hassan for their leadership in supporting the professionalization of this vital workforce, and for their unwavering commitment to improving access to services that ensure people with I/DD can live, work, and thrive in our communities.”
Key Provisions of the Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act
The bill:
- Directs the Office of Management and Budget to consider revising the SOC system to establish a discrete occupational code for Direct Support Professionals.
- Ensures states and the federal government receive accurate workforce data—including turnover rates and geographic shortage areas—to better address the DSP workforce crisis.
- Strengthens local training and recruitment efforts by enabling targeted workforce development strategies based on reliable data.
- Formally recognizes DSPs’ unique and specialized responsibilities, distinct from home health aides or personal care aides.
- Requires a report to Congress if a separate SOC code is not created.
- Authorizes no new federal spending, ensuring a fiscally responsible approach.
This legislation is a critical step toward building a stronger workforce, strengthening independent living services, and ensuring every individual with a disability has the support they need to thrive.