In the early spring 2005, Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) met with American Association of Community College (AACC) staff members to discuss ideas for raising congressional awareness of community colleges and the federal policy issues that affect them. Foremost among the ideas discussed that day was the formation of what would eventually become the Community College Caucus (CCC). From the start, the CCC was envisioned as having an active, educational agenda, and reaching as broad a membership as possible. The House Committee on Administration recognized the CCC in September 2005. The official purpose of the caucus, as stated in its charter, is as follows:
"The Community College Caucus recognizes that community colleges play an important and distinctive role in the American education system. Community colleges provide a low cost, close-to-home education to more than 11.6 million students a year. The ability of the community college to adapt to the needs of the community situates them to play a key role in training workers in our evolving economy.
The purpose of the CCC is to raise awareness within the House of Representatives about the unique role of community colleges within the American educational system. The Caucus will serve as a forum to identify and discuss current issues which affect community colleges."
Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Richard Burr (R-NC) established a Senate Congressional Community College Caucus in April, 2007. Community colleges across the country welcomed this development and AACC remains committed to working closely with the Caucus to help it play a meaningful role in the Senate's deliberations on policies impacting community colleges and their students.
The Congressional Community College Caucus is alive and growing. Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Carolina have 100% of their Representatives and both their Senators serving on the Caucuses.
Please encourage your State Representatives to join the Community College Caucus. Click here (PDF) to view the list of Community College Caucus members leaving the House of Representatives.
- Click here to view a complete list of the 34 Members of the Senate caucus. (PDF)
- Click here to view a complete list of the 208 Members of the House caucus. (PDF)
- Click here to download a letter encouraging your Senator to join the Senate caucus. (MS Word)
- Click here to download a letter encouraging your Representative to join the House caucus. (MS Word)
- Use AACC's Congress Web link to send these letters to your State Congress Members.