[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2862 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2862
To amend the Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program under
the Higher Education Act of 1965.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025
Ms. Duckworth (for herself, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms.
Warren, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Smith,
Mr. Kim, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Van
Hollen, and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program under
the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Child Care Access Means Parents In
Schools Reauthorization Act'' or the ``CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act''.
SEC. 2. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL.
Section 419N of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070e)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 419N. CHILD CARE ACCESS MEANS PARENTS IN SCHOOL.
``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to facilitate the
success of eligible student parents in postsecondary education through
the provision of child care services, including campus-based child care
services.
``(b) Program Authorized.--
``(1) Authority.--The Secretary may award grants to
eligible institutions to assist the eligible institutions in
providing child care services to eligible student parents.
``(2) Amount of grants.--
``(A) Minimum grant amount.--A grant under this
section shall be awarded in an amount that is not less
than $75,000 per year.
``(B) Maximum grant amount.--A grant under this
section shall be awarded in an amount that is not more
than $2,000,000 per year.
``(C) Ratable increases and decreases.--The amount
specified in subparagraph (A) shall be ratably
increased or decreased to the extent that funds
available under subsection (i) exceed or are less than
(respectively) the amount required to provide the
amount specified in subparagraph (A).
``(3) Duration and payments.--
``(A) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant
under this section for a period of 5 years.
``(B) Payments.--Subject to subparagraphs (C) and
(D), the Secretary shall make annual grant payments
under this section.
``(C) Supplemental grants.--The Secretary may
consider applications from an eligible institution that
receives grant funds under this section for additional
funds in any subsequent fiscal year, if such
institution demonstrates the need for such additional
funds, subject to the maximum grant amount under
paragraph (2)(B) and the duration of the original grant
under subparagraph (A).
``(D) Continuation awards.--The Secretary shall
make continuation awards under this section to an
institution of higher education only if the Secretary
determines, on the basis of the reports submitted under
subsection (g)(1), that the institution is making a
good faith effort to ensure that eligible student
parents at the institution have access to affordable,
quality child care services.
``(4) Definition of eligible institution.--In this section,
the term `eligible institution' means--
``(A) an institution of higher education, as
defined in section 101, with respect to which the total
number of students eligible for a Federal Pell Grant
enrolled at the institution of higher education in the
most recently completed award year was equal to or
greater than 150; or
``(B) a consortium of institutions of higher
education described in subparagraph (A).
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible institution receiving a
grant under this section shall use such grant funds to support
access to child care services for eligible student parents
enrolled at such institution by carrying out 1 or more of the
following activities:
``(A) Establishing or supporting a campus-based
child care program.
``(B) Providing subsidized child care using a
sliding fee scale.
``(C) Providing subsidized and accessible before
and after school services.
``(2) Permitted uses.--In addition to the required
activities described in paragraph (1), an eligible institution
receiving a grant under this section may use such grant funds
to carry out 1 or more of the following activities:
``(A) Providing support services for eligible
student parents.
``(B) Enhancing the quality of the campus-based
child care program supported under this section,
including to meet at least one of the purposes
described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of
subsection (d)(15).
``(3) Prohibitions.--
``(A) Use of funds prohibition.--Funds under this
section shall not be used for construction, except for
renovation or repair to meet applicable State or local
health or safety requirements.
``(B) Prohibition on additional eligibility
requirements.--No eligible institution receiving a
grant under this section may require a student parent
to meet requirements (such as requirements related to
work, academic progress, or enrollment intensity) to be
eligible for child care services under this section
other than the requirements listed in paragraph (5).
``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to prohibit an institution of higher education
that receives grant funds under this section from serving the
child care needs of the community served by such institution.
``(5) Definition of eligible student parent.--For the
purpose of this section, the term `eligible student parent'
means a student who--
``(A) is the parent or guardian of 1 or more
dependent child;
``(B) is enrolled at an eligible institution; and
``(C) for the award year for which the
determination is made--
``(i) is eligible to receive a Federal Pell
Grant; or
``(ii) meets the financial eligibility
criteria for receiving a Federal Pell Grant
under section 401, but is not eligible for a
Federal Pell Grant for such award year
because--
``(I) the student has not completed
the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid described in section 483;
``(II) the student does not meet
the eligibility requirements of section
484; or
``(III) the student is enrolled in
a graduate or first professional course
of study.
``(6) Publicity.--The Secretary shall publicize the
availability of grants under this section, in addition to
publication in the Federal Register, and shall inform
appropriate educational, nonprofit, and child care
organizations of such availability.
``(7) Special rule.--Any assistance provided to eligible
student parents from grants provided under this section shall
not be treated as other financial assistance for the purposes
of section 471(3).
``(d) Applications.--An eligible institution desiring a grant under
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time,
in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary
may require. Such application shall--
``(1) demonstrate that the institution is an eligible
institution described in subsection (b)(4);
``(2) specify the amount of funds requested;
``(3) demonstrate the need of eligible student parents at
the institution for accessible and affordable child care
services by including in the application--
``(A) information regarding student demographics;
``(B) an assessment of child care capacity on or
near campus;
``(C) information regarding the existence of
waiting lists for child care services on or near
campus;
``(D) information regarding additional needs
created by concentrations of poverty or by geographic
isolation; and
``(E) other relevant data;
``(4) contain a description of the activities to be
assisted, including whether the grant funds will support an
existing child care program or a new child care program;
``(5) identify the resources, including technical expertise
and financial support, the institution will draw upon to
support the child care program and the participation of
eligible student parents in the program (such as accessing
social services funding, using student activity fees to help
pay the costs of child care, using resources obtained by
meeting the needs of parents who are not eligible student
parents, and accessing foundation, corporate, or other
institutional support) and demonstrate that the use of the
resources will not result in increases in student tuition and
fees;
``(6) contain an assurance that the institution will meet
the child care needs of eligible student parents through the
provision of services, or through a contract for the provision
of services;
``(7) describe the extent to which the child care program
will coordinate with the institution's early childhood
education curriculum, to the extent the curriculum is
available, to meet the needs of the students in the early
childhood education program at the institution, and the needs
of the parents and children participating in the child care
program assisted under this section;
``(8) in the case of an institution seeking assistance to
establish a campus-based child care program--
``(A) provide a timeline, covering the period from
receipt of the grant through the provision of the child
care services, delineating the specific steps the
institution will take to achieve the goal of providing
eligible student parents with child care services;
``(B) specify any measures the institution will
take to assist eligible student parents with child care
during the period before the institution provides child
care services;
``(C) include a plan for identifying resources
needed for the child care services, including space in
which to provide child care services, and technical
assistance if necessary; and
``(D) include plans to assure quality of campus-
based child care facilities;
``(9) in the case of an institution seeking assistance for
a campus-based child care program in existence on the date of
the application--
``(A) provide information regarding the number of
eligible student parents served through campus-based
child care on such date;
``(B) provide information on the age groups of
children to be served;
``(C) specify any measures the institution will
take to assist eligible student parents who are
waitlisted for the campus-based child care program;
``(D) provide information regarding the application
of subsidies or a sliding fee scale for child care
services;
``(E) specify what staff positions will be
supported by funding under this section, and how those
staff positions support the purpose under subsection
(a);
``(F) provide information on the total number of
children served by the campus-based child care program,
and number of children of students served; and
``(G) specify if funding will be used to enhance
program quality as described in subsection (c)(2)(B);
``(10) in the case of an institution seeking assistance
that will contract for the provision of child care services--
``(A) provide information on the age groups of
children to be served;
``(B) provide information regarding the application
of subsidies or a sliding fee scale for child care
services; and
``(C) provide information regarding parameters the
institution will use in selecting child care providers
in contracting for the provision of services,
including--
``(i) assessment of program quality; and
``(ii) geographic location;
``(11) contain an assurance that any child care facility
assisted under this section will meet the applicable State and
local government licensing, certification, approval, or
registration requirements;
``(12) describe how information regarding the availability
of subsidized child care will be provided to students;
``(13) contain an assurance that the institution will
assist student parents receiving child care services provided
under this section in enrolling in Federal, State, Tribal, or
local means-tested benefits programs for which they may be
eligible, including--
``(A) the supplemental nutrition assistance program
established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), a nutrition assistance program
carried out under section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C.
2028), or a nutrition assistance program carried out by
the Secretary of Agriculture in the Northern Mariana
Islands;
``(B) the supplemental security income program
under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1381 et seq.);
``(C) the program of block grants to States for
temporary assistance for needy families under part A of
title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.);
``(D) the special supplemental nutrition program
for women, infants, and children established by section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
``(E) the Medicaid program under title XIX of the
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.);
``(F) Federal housing assistance programs,
including tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(o)), and public housing, as defined in section
3(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(1));
``(G) Federal child care assistance programs,
including assistance under the Child Care and
Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9857 et
seq.);
``(H) the free and reduced price school lunch
program established under the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
``(I) refundable credit for coverage under a
qualified health plan under section 36B of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986;
``(J) the earned income tax credit under section 32
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
``(K) the child tax credit under section 24 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
``(L) any other means-tested Federal program
determined by the Secretary to be appropriate;
``(14) contain an abstract summarizing the contents of such
application and how the institution intends to achieve the
purpose under subsection (a);
``(15) contain a plan for any child care program assisted
under this section to, not later than 3 years after the date
the institution first receives assistance under this section--
``(A) meet standards that are equivalent to Head
Start program performance standards described in
section 641A(a)(1)(B) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C.
9836a(a)(1)(B)) or other equivalent evidence-based
standards approved by the Secretary;
``(B) be in the top tier of the quality rating
improvement system for such facilities used by the
State in which the facility is located; or
``(C) be accredited by a national early childhood
accrediting body with demonstrated valid and reliable
program quality standards; and
``(16) contain an assurance that the institution will
comply with the prohibitions described in subsection (c)(3).
``(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical
assistance--
``(1) to eligible institutions to help such institutions
qualify for, apply for, and maintain a grant under this
section; and
``(2) to institutions receiving grants under this section
to help such institutions meet the reporting requirements
described in subsection (g).
``(f) Priority.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall give priority in
awarding grants under this section to eligible institutions
that submit applications describing programs that--
``(A) leverage local or institutional resources,
including in-kind contributions, to support the
activities assisted under this section;
``(B) utilize a sliding fee scale for child care
services provided under this section in order to
support a high number of eligible student parents
pursuing postsecondary education at the institution;
and
``(C) provide additional resources or supports to
students who are single parents.
``(2) Limitation.--The Secretary may not establish a
priority in awarding grants under this section to eligible
institutions that--
``(A) propose projects solely with off-campus child
care providers; or
``(B) that are designed to support 2 or more child
care providers.
``(g) Reporting Requirements; Continuing Eligibility.--
``(1) Reporting requirements.--Each eligible institution
receiving a grant under this section shall report to the
Secretary annually information on--
``(A) the population of eligible student parents
who received child care services under this section,
including--
``(i) the number of such eligible student
parents, disaggregated by full- and part-time
status;
``(ii) information on such eligible student
parents, including demographic information
disaggregated by--
``(I) sex;
``(II) status as a single parent;
``(III) race and ethnicity;
``(IV) age groups of the dependents
of such student parents;
``(V) classification as a student
with a disability;
``(VI) recipients of educational
assistance under laws administered by
the Secretary of Defense or the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
``(VII) status as a first-
generation college student; and
``(VIII) levels of degree or
credential pursued by such eligible
student parents; and
``(iii) the number of such eligible student
parents who--
``(I) remain enrolled at the
institution during the academic year
for which they received such services;
``(II) remain enrolled at the
institution during the subsequent
academic year after which they first
received such services;
``(III) graduate from the
institution during the academic year
for which they received such services;
``(IV) transfer to a different
institution during the academic year
for which they received such services;
or
``(V) withdrew from the institution
during the academic year for which they
received such services;
``(B) the fee structure for eligible student
parents to receive child care services under this
section, including any sliding scale;
``(C) the percentage of the institution's grant
that was used directly to subsidize any fees charged
for--
``(i) campus-based child care services for
eligible student parents; and
``(ii) off-campus child care services for
eligible student parents;
``(D) information on institutional or local
resources, including in-kind contributions, leveraged
to help eligible student parents access child care
services; and
``(E) the relevant quality information of the child
care services supported by a grant under this section,
including--
``(i) the name of the accrediting agency or
association that is providing accreditation to
such child care services, if applicable; and
``(ii) the tier or level of the State
tiered and transparent system for measuring the
quality of child care providers that is
associated with such child care services, if
applicable.
``(2) Report.--
``(A) Report required.--On an annual basis, the
Secretary shall make publicly available a report that
includes a summary of the information described in
paragraph (1).
``(B) Stakeholder consultation.--The Secretary
shall work with relevant stakeholders to determine the
manner in which the data described under paragraph (1)
and summarized under subparagraph (A) is collected.
``(h) Nondiscrimination.--No person in the United States shall, on
the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national
origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy,
childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, or
sex stereotype), or disability, be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination by any
program funded, in whole or in part, with funds made available under
this section or with amounts appropriated for grants, contracts, or
certificates administered with such funds.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2026 through 2031.''.
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