Rep. Bobby Scott, the top-ranking Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, proposed a new grant program Friday to aid caregivers for the elderly and disabled.
Among those eligible to receive the federal funding under the program, dubbed the Direct Care Opportunity Act, would be labor unions.
“As one of the fastest-growing occupational sectors in our nation, we must make meaningful investments to ensure that this field is attractive and provides advancement opportunities for those dedicated to the profession. The Direct Care Opportunity Act will support innovative strategies to recruit, retain and support our nation’s direct care workers,” the Virginia Democrat said Friday.
He added that the legislation would “addresses the need for a well-trained, prepared and empowered direct care workforce now and for the future.”
The proposed legislation would direct the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services to create “not more than” 15 five-year grants “to conduct projects for purposes of recruiting, retaining or providing advancement opportunities to direct care workers.” The legislation does not include a specific funding level.
The text of Scott’s bill specifies that eligible recipients of the grants would include “nonprofit organizations that foster the professional development and collective engagement of direct care workers, including labor organizations.” States and Native American tribes, among others, also would be eligible.
Unions have been heavily involved in attempting to organize the direct care field in recent years. Scott’s legislation could be used to provide federal funding that would at least indirectly assist those organizing efforts.
A representative for Scott could not be reached for comment.
