Bill Text: DE HCR135 | 2025-2026 | 153rd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Recognizing May 21st As Direct Support Professional Advocacy Day And Acknowledging The Historic Sacrifices And Ongoing Contributions Of Delawares Direct Support Professionals Serving Vulnerable Adults With Intellectual/developmental Disabilities.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-4)
Status: (Engrossed) 2026-05-21 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT [HCR135 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2025-HCR135-Draft.html
|
SPONSOR: |
Rep. K. Johnson & Sen. Poore |
|
Reps. Bolden, K. Williams, Chukwuocha, Berry, Gorman, Griffith, Heffernan, Morrison, Romer, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall, Dukes, Michael Smith; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Pinkney, Mantzavinos, Hoffner, Huxtable, Cruce, Wilson, Buckson |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 135
RECOGNIZING MAY 21ST AS “DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL ADVOCACY DAY” AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE HISTORIC SACRIFICES AND ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF DELAWARE’S DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS SERVING VULNERABLE ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals serve people with disabilities and other life challenges with dedication and distinction so they may live their best lives; and
WHEREAS, thousands of vulnerable adults continue to require the community-based services of these essential workers, who are employed by non-profit organizations like Forward Journey, Mentor Delaware, Easterseals, Keystone Human Services, KSI, and others; and
WHEREAS, The Ability Network of Delaware and all its members who serve Delawareans in community-based settings continue to advocate for funding that supports a robust direct support workforce so they may meet the needs of those in their care; and
WHEREAS, the need for additional Direct Support Professionals staffing in community-based service providers far outweighs the current workforce; and
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals are trained and highly skilled healthcare employees; and
WHEREAS, the Direct Support Professionals are not minimum wage workers; and
WHEREAS, Direct Support Professionals need greater compensation that is commiserate with the level of skill and professionalism their work requires; and
WHEREAS, the General Assembly has expressed its continued support for the work done by Direct Support Professionals by including additional funds to stabilize this workforce in previous state budgets; and
WHEREAS, “Direct Support Professional Advocacy Day” is to acknowledge the need to recognize Direct Support Professionals as healthcare professionals by increasing funding of Intellectual/Developmental Disability (“I/DD”) services, co-sponsored by Ability Network Delaware and A Team Delaware is taking place on May 21, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the General Assembly hereby recognizes May 21 st as “Direct Support Professional Advocacy Day”, acknowledges the important role that Direct Support Professionals play in meeting the human service needs of our citizens, and expresses its sincere gratitude to these essential workers for their commitment to serving their fellow human beings.
SYNOPSIS
This resolution recognizes the importance and expertise of Direct Support Professionals to our state on the occasion of May 21st as “Direct Support Professional Advocacy Day" sponsored by the Ability Network of Delaware and A Team Delaware.
