Stop the Unlawful Delay of FY 2025 Federal Funds for the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) and the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)!

What’s the Problem?
Congress has already appropriated FY 2025 funding for HEP and CAMP. Yet, as of 6/24/25, no funds have been distributed, no official award letters have been issued, and institutions are facing delays that threaten program continuity.

This delay represents a failure to carry out the will of Congress and may constitute a violation of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which prohibits the Executive Branch from withholding appropriated funds without following specific procedures.

Who’s Affected?
-Over 8,000 students who they and/or their families perform essential agricultural labor across the country
-Colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations that risk cutting staff or suspending services due to lack of funds
-First-generation college students supported by CAMP as they transition into higher education who exceed national first-year passing and retention rates
-HEP and CAMP scholars who return and reinvest in their rural hometowns to raise the overall community income and tax base, open businesses, and increase consumer spending.

Why This Matters
These programs are proven tools for economic mobility and educational equity. They connect students from farmworking families with the resources and academic guidance needed to complete degrees, enter skilled careers, and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the U.S. workforce.

Every day these funds remain withheld, more students lose access to opportunities that can break cycles of generational poverty and underemployment.

Our Demands
We respectfully urge:

1. The immediate release of FY 2025 funds to all approved HEP and CAMP grantees;
2. A formal explanation from the U.S. Department of Education and OMB regarding the delay;
3. Congressional oversight and intervention to ensure compliance with federal law and funding timelines.