Today, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a new $198 million grant opportunity and new guidance on how colleges can use American Recue Plan Grant funds to meet students’ basic needs such as housing and food security; and guidance on how colleges can use existing data to connect students to other federal benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Affordable Connectivity Program at the Federal Communications Commission.

Today, President Biden unveiled a revised framework for the Build Back Better Act—budget reconciliation legislation aimed at further developing our country’s potential by investing in its human resources. The framework devotes $40 billion in higher education and workforce programs and includes features that are tremendously important to community colleges and students. On behalf of the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees, we enthusiastically endorse this framework.

On behalf of the nation’s community colleges, we are disappointed to hear reports of the exclusion of the America’s College Promise Act from the Build Back Better Act that is before Congress. Community colleges provide relevant and affordable access to higher education and career training opportunities for nearly 12-million Americans each year. This legislation would mark a historical federal investment in ensuring these opportunities remain affordable and accessible.

San Diego, October 15 — During the third day of the ACCT Leadership Congress, ACCT President & CEO J.