WASHINGTON, D.C. — Student leaders from California’s community colleges gathered in Washington, D.C., for a federal advocacy conference hosted by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC). Under the theme Our Future, Our Voice: Turning Advocacy into Impact, nearly 300 students engaged directly with members of Congress and congressional staff to elevate the needs of California community college students and strengthen their federal advocacy skills.
As part of the conference, delegates voted to establish SSCCC’s 2026 Federal Policy Priorities, identifying the most pressing federal issues impacting community college students. The top priorities adopted include:
Fully Funding the Pell Grant: To ensure reliable financial support for low-income students and strengthen college affordability.
Expanding Equitable Access to Income Pathways, Federal Student Aid, and Residency-Based Benefits: To reduce barriers to federal programs and support economic mobility for diverse student populations.
Protecting and Expanding SNAP Funding and Student Eligibility: To address food insecurity and ensure students have access to basic nutritional support while pursuing their education.
Together, these priorities center on college affordability, basic needs security, and equitable access to federal support systems, which are essential to improving student success and economic mobility.
“The inaugural Federal Advocacy Academy demonstrated what’s possible when community college students come together with a shared vision and a commitment to advocacy. Together, we elevated the voices of the 2.2 million students in the California Community College system and advocated for priorities that strengthen college affordability, protect basic needs programs, and expand equitable access to federal support,” said Jerry Reyes, President of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges. “This moment marks an important step in ensuring community college students remain engaged in the national conversations that shape higher education.”
After participating in Advocacy 101 and Storytelling workshops, student representatives applied the skills they learned by meeting with both U.S. Senators and the majority of Members of the California House delegation. During these visits, students discussed key issues such as college affordability, workforce development, and equitable access to higher education.
Leadership highlights included Rep. Ted Lieu (Vice Chair, House Democratic Caucus), Rep. Nanette Barragán (Chair, Congressional Hispanic Caucus), and Rep. Mark Takano (Ranking Member, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee). Notable moments included Rep. Mark Takano hosting a press conference outside the Department of Education on federal investment in higher education, and Senator Alex Padilla inviting students to a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing community college students.
Students also observed key congressional hearings, including the House Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing on Community Colleges and the Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing, gaining firsthand insight into federal policymaking.
Representing more than 2.2 million California Community College students, participants strengthened their leadership, coordinated unified advocacy messaging, and amplified student voices on national higher education priorities.
For more information about the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, please visit: https://ssccc.org/who-we-are/
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving over 2 million students per year. The Student Senate for California Community Colleges mission is to enrich the collegiate experience for all California community college students by pursuing policies that will improve student access and success while engaging and empowering local student leaders and honoring equity and diversity.
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