Clark, Duckworth Reintroduce Bill Providing Affordable and Accessible Child Care for Parenting Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced legislation to help increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 3 million parenting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Despite the latest cuts from the Trump administration, the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and increase funding for 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 parenting students.

"The skyrocketing cost of child care is holding parents back," said Whip Clark. "You should be able to raise a family while pursuing an education, advancing in your career, and building a better future for your child. This legislation reflects what Democrats are fighting for everyday: empowering more people to pursue their American Dream without going into debt."

"Whether by illegally withholding CCAMPIS funding or repeatedly calling to eliminate the program altogether, it's deeply cruel that Donald Trump is working to rip yet another lifeline away from student parents across the country," said Sen. Duckworth. "No parent should be forced to drop out of college or take on even more debt just to complete their education. Our legislation would help provide student parents access to the child care they deserve so they can focus on their education and build a stronger future for their families."

Parenting students already graduate with much higher levels of debt compared to non-parenting students and have more difficulty paying that debt off while making ends meet. Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30 percent while the share of institutions offering on-campus child care services has declined by 14 percent. This leaves parenting students stuck in the middle as they face both exorbitant tuition costs and a lack of options for safe, affordable, on-campus child care.

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

• Reauthorize the CCAMPIS program through Fiscal Year 2031
• Authorize the CCAMPIS funding level at $500 million per year
• Increase the minimum grant award that eligible institutions of higher education can receive to $75,000 per year and set a maximum grant award of $2 million per year
• Eliminate barriers for parenting students to access child care services supported by a CCAMPIS grant
• Streamline program requirements and enhance U.S. Department of Education technical assistance to make it easier for eligible institutions to apply for a CCAMPIS grant
• 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 in the House by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Jennifer McClellan (VA-4), Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), and Jill Tokuda (HI-2).

"More than four million college students are parents," said Rep. Bonamici. "When student parents have access to affordable childcare, it increases their chance of success and is life-changing for them and their families. I am grateful to join my colleagues in introducing this important update to CCAMPIS to make higher education more accessible."

"As a dad to a three-year-old, I know firsthand the joys and the challenges that come with raising a child in today's world," said Rep. Gomez. "What the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act does is make those challenges a little easier for student parents, who face demanding schedules on top of childcare. We need to make sure higher education works for every family, because when parents succeed, children thrive, and our whole economy is stronger."

"Parenting students face unique challenges as they balance the demands of coursework, raising a child, and often a part-time job. As the costs of higher education and child care push both out of reach for many, the CCAMPIS program offers vital support to parents seeking to complete their education while providing a strong foundation for their children's development through affordable, high-quality child care. I thank Whip Clark and Senator Duckworth for their leadership addressing the child care crisis for the workforce of tomorrow through the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act." said Rep. McClellan.

"As a mom of two boys, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to access quality, affordable child care, and I can't imagine how challenging it is for the parents who are juggling raising a kid while pursuing an education," said Rep. Pettersen. "Too many families are being squeezed by the rising costs. Expanding access to child care for students who are parents is a basic step that we can take to lower costs and break down barriers that will improve future outcomes for our kids. I'm grateful to work alongside a child care champion like Whip Clark and will keep fighting for legislation like this one because it is the best investment we can make in our economy and the next generation."

"Students, who are also parents, face an impossible choice every day: create a better future for their families through education or care for their children. Swamped with classes and overwhelmed by financial stress, these parents too often fall through the cracks despite their tireless efforts," said Rep.Tokuda. "That's why I'm proud to once again join Whip Clark in reintroducing the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act, which would help young parents stay in school, graduate with a degree, and create a better life for their families."

The legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: American Association of University Women (AAUW), Ascend at the Aspen Institute, California Competes: Higher Education for a Strong Economy, Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations (CCWRO), EdTrust, First Five Years Fund, Generation Hope, Green River College (Auburn, WA), Institute for Women's Policy Research, Madison Area Technical College, National Women's Law Center, New America Higher Education Policy Program, Save the Children, SchoolHouse Connection, The Institute for College Access and Success, Today's Students Coalition, Trellis Strategies, UCLA, and Walla Walla Community College.

While serving on the Appropriations Committee, Clark helped lead the effort to increase funding for CCAMPIS. Now, as House Democratic Whip, Clark continues to be a leading advocate for affordable child care. She has also introduced the Child Care Infrastructure Act and the Child Care Workforce Development Act, which would deliver robust investments in early learning facilities and early educators

Duckworth has been a staunch advocate for expanding the CCAMPIS program. In 2019, Duckworth helped U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issue a report highlighting the challenges parenting students face while pursuing higher education.