Sign the Letter of Support
for HEP and CAMP Projects

The Honorable Linda McMahon                    The Honorable Russ Vought, Director

Secretary of Education                                   Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

400 Maryland Avenue SW                              725 7th Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20202                                 Washington, D.C. 20503

 

Dear Secretary McMahon and OMB Director Vought:

 

The undersigned individuals are writing to urge the United States Department of Education to release the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 grants for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) as directed by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025.  Many of the cosigners of this letter are HEP/CAMP alumni from across the country.

 

For over 50 years, HEP/CAMP programs have assisted hundreds of thousands of students from agricultural backgrounds earn their High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) and succeed in higher education, secure better employment opportunities, and contribute more to their communities’ tax base. As these programs continue to effectively support students, the demand for HEP/CAMP continues to grow across the country, especially in rural areas. Currently there are over 100 HEP/CAMP programs throughout the United States at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs).

 

The Department of Education’s delay in releasing HEP/CAMP grants will, and have already, forced HEP/CAMP projects to lay off staff and to prepare for the closure of HEP/CAMP projects.  The closure of these programs will mean that nearly 7,000 students throughout the country this year will not receive the support they need to obtain their High School Equivalency Diploma or enroll in higher education, thus making it difficult for them to access opportunities to secure more advanced jobs to support themselves and their families and communities especially in rural areas.

 

Therefore, we urge the U.S. Department of Education to follow the law as outlined in the FY 2025 Appropriations bill and to immediately release grant funding for existing HEP/CAMP projects and to release new grant awards.  HEP/CAMP programs have been instrumental in providing individuals, especially first-generation students from low-income, agricultural backgrounds, with critical resources to excel academically and professionally. Additionally, they have helped these students in achieving their dreams of pursuing higher education and securing better employment to support themselves and their families. HEP/CAMP offers students supportive services such as academic advising, assistance with academic materials, summer bridge programs, summer orientation, tutoring, mentoring, housing, internships, and crucial financial assistance. 

 

HEP/CAMP programs have been highly effective.  According to the U.S. Department of Education during 2023-2024, 68.2% of HEP students who completed their course of study earned a HSED or its equivalent and 83.9% of HEP students improved their job status or enrolled in the military. In addition, 76.2% of CAMP participants successfully completed their first year at an IHE and 96.2% continued onto their second year in college.

 

HEP and CAMP students have excelled as a direct result of HEP and CAMP.  For example, one student went from a household where his mother tirelessly worked three jobs to support the family to attending medical school where he focuses on holistic care and treating patients in rural communities.  In Oregon, a CAMP program helped four siblings earn their Associate’s Degree before transferring to various universities to earn their Bachelor’s Degree.  They now work in education and business professions, contributing to American society.  A HEP program in Georgia helped a student to earn her High School Equivalency Diploma and continue her studies to become a Medical Assistant. Since then, she teaches adult literacy classes and was recently honored for her work. Following her example, her sons completed their first year with CAMP at two different universities in Georgia.  For the past 50 years, there are hundreds of thousands of similar examples where students benefited tremendously from their participation in these life-changing/generation-changing programs.

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Furthermore, HEP and CAMP grant awards create jobs and stimulate economic activity in the rural areas where many of these programs are administered. By continuing to support HEP/CAMP, Congress is investing in a proven program that expands educational and employment opportunities for students from agricultural worker families yielding positive financial impact for both the students and the greater American society. Agricultural workers feed America and deserve the opportunity for their dependents to pursue educational opportunities.

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Thank you for your consideration and hope that you will take immediate action to release the HEP/CAMP grants.