Congress asks OMB to count direct support workers—a hidden workforce in crisis
H.R. 6137 — Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act · Filed by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) · 38 cosponsors · Introduced Nov 19, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill asks the Office of Management and Budget to create a separate job classification code for direct support professionals—workers who help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with daily living tasks, community participation, and independence. The bill does not mandate the change; it requires OMB to consider it during the next revision of the Standard Occupational Classification system and report back to Congress if they decline, with no new funding required.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole operative mechanism is a request to OMB to consider establishing a separate occupational code for direct support professionals within an existing statistical classification system. It is a data-governance and labor-market transparency measure, not a spending bill, regulatory mandate, or entitlement expansion.
What the text implies
- Establishing a discrete occupational code may enable states and the federal government to identify and quantify direct support professional shortages more precisely, potentially informing future Medicaid reimbursement rates or workforce development funding.
- Improved occupational data could support advocacy for wage increases or better working conditions by making the scale and turnover crisis more visible to policymakers and the public.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
The bill improves data collection and labor-market visibility for a workforce experiencing severe turnover (39% nationally), which directly serves people with disabilities by enabling better workforce planning and retention strategies. It imposes no costs on citizens and creates no new restrictions; it is a transparency and accountability measure aimed at a chronically underserved population.