{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/grijalva-scott-lee-introduce-bill-to-invest-in-direct-care-workers", "Grijalva, Scott, Lee Introduce Bill to invest in Direct care Workers", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Adelita S. Grijalva", "G000606", "grijalva.house.gov", "grijalva", "https://grijalva.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Direct CARE Opportunity Act helps meet the growing demand for direct care workers, improve working conditions, and support seniors and people with disabilities\n\nTucson, AZ \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva, alongside House Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Susie Lee (NV-03), announced plans toreintroduce the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment (CARE) Opportunity Act of 2026, legislation to invest in the training, recruitment, retention, and career advancement of the nation\u2019s direct care workforce.\n\nBetween 2025 and 2035, the direct care workforce is projected toadd more than 886,000 new jobs. Despite this growing demand, direct care workers still earn low wages and experience unstable working conditions. The current median wage for direct care workers is just $17.36 an hour. In addition to low wages, direct care workers also face high injury rates. For example, nursing assistants are nearly five times more likely than the typical U.S. worker to experience workplace injuries or illnesses.\n\nCongressional Republicans and the Trump Administration have made the situation even more dire by cutting Medicaid funding by nearly $1 trillion in the \u201cBig Ugly Bill\u201d and threatening other public assistance that helps many direct care workers make ends meet. As a result, many states are reducing access to home and community-based services, the main source of funding for direct care workers.\n\nThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 strengthens the training, support, and career opportunities that direct care workers need to support millions of older Americans and people with disabilities.\n\n\u201cFor so many families throughout Southern Arizona, direct care workers provide critical support that allows older adults and people with disabilities to live with dignity and age in place. Despite the essential work they do, direct care workers are too often underpaid and lack the support and opportunities they deserve, contributing to a growing shortage of providers. The Direct CARE Opportunity Act invests in these workers by expanding training, strengthening career pathways, and helping recruit and retain the workforce our communities depend on,\u201d said Rep. Grijalva.\n\n\u201cDirect care workers play an essential role in caring for our nation\u2019s seniors and individuals with disabilities,\u201d said Ranking Member Scott. \u201cRegrettably, our investments in this critical workforce have lagged far behind the rapidly growing need for their services. It\u2019s time to address the shortage of care workers and provide them with the resources and support they deserve. By funding innovative strategies to recruit, retain, and support direct care workers, the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 helps ensure that our nation\u2019s seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to vital, everyday care.\u201d\n\n\u201cNevada is home to more than 13,000 direct care workers who work tirelessly to support Nevada seniors and those with disabilities every day, and demand for their services is skyrocketing,\u201d said Rep. Lee. \u201cThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act meets that demand by directly investing in the retention, recruitment, and training of our direct care workforce. This practical investment supports caregivers currently in the workforce, strengthens the direct care workforce pipeline, and ensures that those who depend on direct care workers can continue to live securely and with dignity.\u201d\n\nThe Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026 would:\n\nProvide funding to states and eligible entities to invest in strategies to recruit, retain, and advance the direct care workforce.\n\nExpand training, registered apprenticeships, and mentoring opportunities to strengthen the direct care workforce pipeline.\n\nDevelop career pathway models to support retention and advancement within the direct care field.\n\nHelp communities meet the needs of a growing aging population and support older Americans and people with disabilities who want to remain in their communities.\n\nSupport the health and well-being of people who rely on direct care services, helping reduce reliance on more costly institutional care.\n\nTo read the bill text for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\nTo read the fact sheet for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\nTo read the section-by-section for the Direct CARE Opportunity Act of 2026, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://grijalva.house.gov/media/press-releases/grijalva-scott-lee-introduce-bill-to-invest-in-direct-care-workers"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.9647969640791416, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}