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 older individuals and individuals with disabilities in the United States require assistance with activities of daily living to live independently and participate in their communities to their fullest extent. The Bureau of the Census projects that by 2060 the population of individuals age 65 or older will double from 49,200,000 in 2016 to 94,700,000. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 4 (or 60,000,000) adults in the United States are living with a disability. (2) The assistance of direct care workers allows older individuals and individuals with disabilities to live with dignity and safety, and to exercise their right to live independently in their own homes and communities, in keeping with what is most appropriate for their needs and preferences. Older individuals and individuals with disabilities may also participate in the direct care workforce, further supporting their ability to live independently. (3) According to PHI, direct care workers provide most of the paid, hands-on care for older individuals and individuals with disabilities. (4) According to PHI, 4,500,000 direct care workers provide care across home and community-based settings, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, intermediate care facilities, and hospitals to care for the growing population of older individuals and individuals with disabilities. (5) PHI projects that by 2024, 5,200,000 direct care workers will be needed across all care settings to care for the growing population of older individuals and individuals with disabilities. (6) Many direct care workers lack access to a career pathway or advanced training opportunities. This limits their ability to build competency and expertise in their field that, when gained, may lead to an increase in their earning capacity. According