[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 22940-22941] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNITION OF DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS OF ARKANSAS ______ HON. MIKE ROSS of arkansas in the house of representatives Friday, September 26, 2008 Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all the dedicated people at the Rainbow of Challenges in Hope, Arkansas and the [[Page 22941]] South Arkansas Developmental Center for Children and Families, Inc. These are just a few of many organizations in Arkansas that are helping thousands of disabled individuals gain access to needed support services. Unfortunately, there is an increasing workforce shortage threatening the quality of these services available in Arkansas and throughout the nation. Without an adequately paid, trained and dedicated workforce, our nation's disabled individuals and their families face a less secure future. Without the necessary workforce, providers can not help our nation fulfill its commitment to people with disabilities as intended by Congress's passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. For this reason, I am a cosponsor of the Direct Support Professionals Fairness and Security Act of 2007 (H.R.1279). This important legislation would provide funds to states to enable them to increase the wages paid to targeted direct support professionals in providing services to individuals with disabilities under the Medicaid Program. It is essential that the House of Representatives pass this legislation and bring it one step closer to being signed into law. I applaud the work of these Arkansas organizations for taking a lead and coming to Washington, DC this month to advocate for improvements on this workforce issue. There is no better way to recognize their contribution to the nation than by passing this legislation. ____________________