Key Clark Legislation Included in Landmark Higher Education Bill
Three reforms in comprehensive overhaul tackle child care, foster youth, LGBTQ+ discrimination
October 18, 2019- Washington, D.C. – This week, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Katherine Clark (MA-5) announced that three of her education legislative priorities have been included in the landmark College Affordability Act, a higher education reauthorization package that tackles the rising cost of tuition, the burden of student loans, and students’ on-campus safety among several other reforms. The bill includes Congresswoman Clark’s legislation to assist students facing homelessness and foster care youth, prevent on-campus discrimination, and help student-parents juggling the challenges of child care and classwork.
- A reauthorization of the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) program that includes a quadruple increase in funding to $200 million annually for 5 years, up from $50 million.
- The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act would improve the financial aid process for homeless and foster care youth pursuing higher education.
- The Exposing Discrimination in Higher Education Act would require higher education institutions that seek a religious exemption from Title IX to apply and disclose the nature of the exemption to the Department of Education and prominently on the institution’s website.
The rising cost of college is leaving low-income and middle-class families behind. The College Affordability Act arrives in Congress over a decade after the latest reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The bill makes substantial reforms in higher education so students can spend less to earn a quality degree and earn more after graduating. Investments in education yield the greatest dividends and this effort to expand opportunity, reduce costs, and provide more services ensures that students from all backgrounds will have a fair shot at success.
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