1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Direct Creation, Advancement, and Retention of Employment Opportunity Act or the Direct CARE Opportunity Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Millions of seniors and persons with disabilities in the United States require assistance with activities of daily living in order to live independently and participate in their communities. (2) The assistance of direct care workers allows seniors and persons with disabilities to live with dignity, safety and independence in their own homes and communities and in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs and preferences. (3) The Institute of Medicine has found that direct care workers provide the bulk of services for older adults in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and individuals’ homes. (4) The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that personal care aides and home health aides will be two of the occupations with the most new jobs created in the country by 2024. (5) Many direct care workers lack access to a career ladder or advanced training opportunities and, according to PHI, more than half of home care workers have completed no formal education beyond high school, making quality, transferable training essential to success on the job. (6) According to PHI, direct care workers earn a median wage of just over $10 an hour and frequently are not provided the workplace-based benefits that would allow them to care for themselves and their families. (7) According to National Women’s Law Center's analysis of Census Bureau data, the vast majority of direct care workers are women, and women of color represent nearly half of the direct care workforce. (8) According to the Federal Commission on Long-Term Care, there is high turnover and workforce shortages in direct care occupations, which can contribute to reduced care quality. (9) The Institute of Medicine found that to ensure that the United States is prepared to meet the health care needs of older Americans during the 21st century, it is essential