Congresswoman Torres and Senator Padilla Introduce BASIC Act to Ensure No Student Has to Choose Between College and Basic Needs
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla reintroduced the Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act, legislation to help community colleges and four-year institutions address the unmet basic needs of their students by establishing a $1 billion competitive grant program to better connect students with the resources they need to stay in school and complete their degrees.
Amidst the ongoing affordability crisis, college students across America are struggling to afford food, safe housing, healthcare, childcare, transportation, and other necessities. Nearly one in four college students across the country experience food insecurity, a rate twice that of all other U.S. households, and 1 in 10 students experience homelessness. Research from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs at Temple University shows that 3 in 5 students do not have enough to eat or a safe place to live.
Students with limited income or access to opportunities, such as Pell Grant recipients, parenting students, first-generation students, veterans, former foster youth, students with disabilities, and students at community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, typically experience the highest levels of basic needs insecurity.
Since Fiscal Year 2021, Rep. Torres and Senator Padilla have secured over $43 million for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program (“Basic Needs Grants”) grants nationwide, including $10 million in FY2026. Basic Needs grants now reach schools in 22 states and Puerto Rico, including both rural and urban areas in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and the program has received applications from many more states. The BASIC Act would build upon this progress and ensure students have access to basic needs.
“No student working toward a college degree should have to wonder where their next meal will come from or whether they can keep a roof over their head,” said Congresswoman Torres. “Our students are doing everything we ask of them, pursuing an education, and building a better future, but rising costs are making it harder just to stay in school. The BASIC Act will help colleges step up, connect students with resources they already qualify for, and make sure food, housing, child care, or transportation are never the reason a student has to give up on their education. When our students succeed, our communities and our economy succeed with them.”
“Higher costs fueled by the Trump Administration’s policies are making it harder for millions of students to afford basic needs like housing, healthcare, and nutritious food,” said Senator Padilla. “No student should have to choose between meeting their everyday needs and pursuing higher education. The BASIC Act will help bridge these gaps by providing resources to universities to support students not having to skip a meal or sacrifice their mental or physical health in pursuit of their higher education goals.”
"The California State University (CSU) is proud to support Senator Alex Padilla and Congresswoman Norma Torres in advancing a comprehensive approach to meeting students’ basic needs. We know that student success extends beyond the classroom. When students have reliable access to nutritious food, safe housing, childcare, transportation and technology, they are better positioned to stay enrolled, focus on their education and make meaningful progress toward their degrees. Through the CSU’s Basic Needs Initiative, we have seen the importance of addressing these needs as an integral part of supporting the whole student. The BASIC Act builds on that commitment and aligns with CSU Forward’s focus on creating the conditions for every student to thrive and earn a degree. By strengthening this work at colleges and universities across the country, this legislation has the potential to expand educational opportunity and create lasting benefits for students, their families and their communities." said Dr. Dilcie Perez, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success.
“The University of California (UC) is committed to addressing students’ academic and essential needs through its Basic Needs Initiative, a multi-prong effort to identify and address key factors that contribute to food and housing insecurity so that students can succeed and thrive,” said University of California Vice President and Vice Provost for Graduate, Undergraduate, and Equity Affairs Yvette Gullatt. "That is why UC is proud to support the Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act, which would establish a grant program allowing institutions of higher education to address basic needs insecurity on campuses by providing additional resources to ensure that students can complete their degrees. UC has long advocated for federal support for basic needs and is grateful to Representative Norma Torres and Senator Alex Padilla for their continued work on this vitally important issue.”
The BASIC Act would:
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Authorize a $1 billion competitive grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of students through:
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$40 million for planning grants to help institutions identify unmet needs and develop strategies to combat food and housing insecurity and homelessness.
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$960 million for implementation grants to help institutions provide direct housing, food, and child care assistance, connect students with public benefits, partner with community organizations, and strengthen basic-needs services.
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Grants will prioritize institutions with 25% of higher federal Pell Grant enrollment.
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At least 25 percent of grant funding must go to community colleges, and another 25 percent must go to HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minority serving institutions (such as HSIs, AANAPISIs).
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Improve coordination and data sharing to help identify students who may qualify for programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, housing assistance, child care assistance, tax credits, while protecting student data and privacy.
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Require a national report on student food, housing, and basic-needs insecurity to better understand the challenges facing students and identify effective solutions.
The legislation authorizes $1 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2033 to support planning and implementation grants for colleges and universities nationwide.
The BASIC Act of 2026 is endorsed by: American Association of Community Colleges (AACC); American Association of University Women (AAUW); American Council on Education (ACE); California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office; California State University (CSU); EdTrust; Excelencia in Education; Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP); National Association for College Admission Counseling; National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; National Education Association ; New America Higher Education Policy Program; The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs; The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS); Today's Students Coalition; University of California (UC); Youth Law Center; Achieve Atlanta; Cedar Crest College; Church Women United in New York State; FoodShare South Carolina ; Hunger Free America; LeadMN;
Original Cosponsors: Representatives Wesley Bell (MO-01); Yvette Clarke (NY-09); J. Luis Correa (CA-46); Jasmine Crockett (TX-30); John Garamendi (CA-08); Lucy McBath (GA-06); Gwen Moore (WI-04); Seth Moulton ((MA-06)); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00); Scott Peters (CA-50); Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38); Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05); Lateefah Simon (CA-12); Shri Thanedar (MI-13); Juan Vargas (CA-52);
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