H.R. 5458

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5458 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5458

To amend the Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program under 
the Higher Education Act of 1965.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 18, 2025

Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Gomez, Ms. 
Pettersen, Ms. McClellan, and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

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 the Head Start 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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