Direct Care Alliance's Effort Gains Momentum as Senators Demand Minimum Wage and Overtime for Home Care Workers

June 12, 2009 Add your voice to the growing chorus! If you haven't already sent Secretary Solis a letter of your own, visit the Direct Care Alliance's Legislative Action Center now and send one in. It will only take a minute of your time. A powerful group of senators has joined the effort the DCA has been spearheading to extend minimum wage and overtime protection to home care workers. Fifteen senators led by Tom Harkin (D-IA) have asked U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Hilda Solis to grant basic labor protections to home care workers. The senators - including Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Arlen Specter (D-PA), and Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) - sent the Secretary a letter yesterday. Last month, after the DCA brought a group of direct care workers and their allies to Capitol Hill to ask legislators for their support, 37 members of the House of Representatives sent Secretary Solis a letter asking for the same fix. Leonila Vega Executive Director Direct Care Alliance lvega@directcarealliance.org (212) 730-0741