Sponsors (2)
This resolution trades faster, data-driven improvements in support and planning for people with disabilities and the direct care workforce against the risk of short-term delays for policy fixes and potential increased taxpayer costs to fund targeted workforce interventions.
People with disabilities could receive more reliable, community-based long-term supports because better federal tracking of the direct care workforce would inform policy and service planning.
Direct care and support workers would gain greater recognition in federal occupational data, improving workforce planning and enabling more targeted recruitment, training, and career-support initiatives.
State and local agencies could allocate resources for long-term services more effectively if occupational classifications distinguish direct support professionals during the SOC revision.
People with disabilities and current care recipients might face slower relief because creating or changing a new SOC code could delay immediate policy actions addressing workforce shortages.
Taxpayers could face increased federal costs if improved data lead to targeted programs for recruitment, training, or wage interventions for the direct care workforce.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Urges OMB to consider creating a distinct SOC code for direct support professionals as a healthcare support occupation during the current SOC revision.
Introduced October 15, 2025 by Susan Margaret Collins · Last progress October 15, 2025
Urges the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to consider creating a distinct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code for direct support professionals and similar direct care workers as a healthcare support occupation during the current SOC revision. The resolution states findings about shortages of direct care workers (including direct support professionals, personal assistants, personal attendants, in‑home support workers, and paraprofessionals), the COVID‑19 worsened shortages, the workforce’s fast projected growth, and the current lack of a distinct SOC code used in federal data collection.