OCA Supports the Coronavirus and Child Care Relief Act

Washington, DC - OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates urges Congress to vote in favor of the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA). Introduced by Senator Patty Murray this past Tuesday, CCCERA appropriates $430 billion for child care, child abuse and neglect prevention, K-12 education, postsecondary education, and workforce development.

 With 60% of licensed childcare providers already closed, some of them permanently, it is especially important to invest in child care so that these essential services may continue to be provided. This will become necessary as states begin to reopen and parents begin returning to work, putting families around the country in need of adequate childcare.

This bill includes safeguards to education funding through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), which Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has tried to previously restrict or terminate. Some measures include preventing restrictions on emergency financial aid and disallowing the diversion of funds from public schools. HEERF also provides investments towards Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). 

CCCERA overturns Secretary DeVos’ effort to bar Dreamers and undocumented students from this aid. It also includes funding to help close the digital divide, a critical issue during COVID-19 for low income students with reduced access to remote learning, which OCA has acted to alleviate. This includes an expansion of the E-Rate program, allowing schools to purchase technology and internet access for low income students, and support for technology purchases in the TRIO program, which serves low income, first-generation college students.

“As we start to re-open states, we cannot forget that the battle with this global pandemic is not over. Increasing access, funding, and development for students is essential” said Rita Pin Ahrens, Executive Director of OCA. “COVID-19 has made it clear that there are gaps in resource allocation to students and young people. With the passage of CCCERA, our country would move closer to ensuring access to quality childcare and education for all.”

OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national civil rights organization dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

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