Clark, Duckworth Reintroduce Bill To Expand Child Care on College Campuses, Lower Costs for Student Parents

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced a bill to help increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 4 million parenting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Despite the growing number of parenting students in postsecondary education, access to affordable on-campus child care services has dwindled since 2004. The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would help reverse this trend by reauthorizing and fully funding the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services and ensure the U.S. Department of Education is meeting the needs of student parents.

"High child care costs are holding parents back - making it impossible for many to remain in the workforce and get the education they need to get ahead. But it doesn't have to be this way," said Whip Clark. "With this critical legislation, we can ensure student parents have the support they need and the fair shot they deserve."

"As college costs continue to skyrocket, we can't simply stay on the sidelines as it gets even harder for parenting students to afford higher education," said Senator Duckworth. "The more than 4 million college students who are also raising children already have enough to worry about-child care should not be one of them. This legislation would help increase access to child care services so parenting students can stay focused on getting an education that will help them provide a better, stronger future for their families."

Parenting students already graduate with much higher levels of debt compared to non-parenting students because financial aid offerings do not cover child care. Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30 percent while on-campus childcare facilities have closed and services have been dropped. This leaves parenting students in a financial bind as they face exorbitant education costs and a lack of options for safe and affordable child care on their schools' campuses.

The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would:

• Reauthorize the CCAMPIS program through Fiscal Year 2030
• Authorize CCAMPIS at $500 million per year, establish the annual maximum individual grant award level at $2 million and increase the annual minimum level to $75,000
• Eliminate barriers for parenting students to access benefits
• Streamline program requirements and enhance U.S. Department of Education technical assistance to make it easier for child care providers to apply for grants
• Help connect parenting students to benefit programs that help with food, housing and health care services
• Enhance program transparency and accountability by collecting disaggregated data on the parenting students served by the program

Along with Clark, the legislation is co-led by U.S. House Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jennifer McClellan (VA-3), Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), and Jill Tokuda (HI-2).

"Parents who work hard to create a better future for their families by obtaining an education shouldn't be held back by a lack of affordable child care," said Rep. Bonamici. "Making child care accessible to parenting students will improve their lives and the lives of their children for years to come. I enthusiastically introduce this update to the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program to better support families."

"I founded the Dads Caucus to fight for bills like the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act that make child care more attainable and affordable. Parents who are in school working to build a better life for themselves and their kids shouldn't have to choose between higher education and ensuring their children are safe and looked after while they're in class. I know firsthand the joys and challenges that come with raising a child in today's world and I know the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act is an opportunity to make those challenges a little easier for America's working families," said Rep. Gomez.

"High child care costs impose an insurmountable burden on many parents. Too often, parents choose to stay home to care for their children because they cannot afford to work or pursue their education," said Rep. McClellan. "We must do more to address the child care crisis in our country. I thank Democratic Whip Clark for her leadership on this issue as we introduce the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act to provide much-needed child care options to student parents."

"As a mom of a four-year-old, I know how difficult it can be to find child care. I have heard from so many hardworking parents across Colorado's 7th District who are struggling with finding safe, affordable, and accessible child care," said Rep. Pettersen. "For parents who are pursuing higher education, the challenges to accessing child care are even greater. We must continue to find ways to lower costs for families across Colorado, and this program will add more affordable options for people investing in their education and their future."

"Too many young parents are forced into the impossible position of deciding whether to create a better life for their family through education or care for their child. While trying to juggle full class schedules and demanding jobs, student parents often struggle to access the assistance and support they need to succeed," said Rep. Tokuda. "That's why I'm proud to join Whip Clark in introducing the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act, which would expand child care options for student parents so they can balance the demands of both their classes and work."

Along with Duckworth, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: The Hope Center at Temple University, Young Invincibles, First Five Years Fund, National Women's Law Center, MomsRising, Women Employed, Save the Children and Joliet Junior College.

Clark helped lead the effort to increase funding for CCAMPIS in the annual budget as a Member of the Appropriations Committee. Now, as top House leadership, Clark champions the call to expand access to affordable child care for all Americans. Duckworth has been a strong supporter of expanding the CCAMPIS program. In 2019, Duckworth helped U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issue a report highlighting the challenges parenting students in college are facing while completing their degree.