Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan Reintroduces CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act to Expand Access to On-Campus Child Care

Strategic Insights -

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act aims to increase access to affordable, high-quality on-campus child care services for the over 3 million parenting students enrolled in postsecondary education programs. The bill, reintroduced by Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and co-led by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02), seeks to address the growing child care crisis in the US. The legislation would reauthorize and increase funding for the CCAMPIS program, which is the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the program through Fiscal Year 2031 and authorize $500 million in funding per year.
  • The bill would increase the minimum grant award for eligible institutions of higher education to $75,000 per year and set a maximum grant award of $2 million per year.
  • The legislation would eliminate barriers for parenting students to access child care services supported by a CCAMPIS grant and streamline program requirements and enhance US Department of Education technical assistance.
  • The bill would also help connect parenting students to benefit programs that help with food, housing, and health care services.
  • The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act has been endorsed by 23 organizations, including the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and the Institute for Women's Policy Research.

Statistics:

  • Over 3 million parenting students are enrolled in postsecondary education programs in the US.
  • Parenting students already graduate with much higher levels of debt compared to non-parenting students, with the average debt burden being over $15,000.
  • Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30%, while the share of institutions offering on-campus child care services has declined by 14%.

Sources:

  • Office of Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)
  • House Committee on Education and Labor
  • American Association of University Women (AAUW)
  • Ascend at the Aspen Institute
  • Institute for Women's Policy Research
  • Other 20 organizations that endorsed the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act