McClellan, Sánchez Introduce Bill to Improve Affordability of Student Transportation Costs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-38) introduced the Accessible Campus Commuting and Expanded Student Savings (ACCESS) Act to improve accessibility and affordability of higher education.

The cost of transportation is a significant barrier for many students, yet is often overlooked as students weigh the affordability of college and apprenticeship programs. 

The ACCESS Act would help reduce barriers to access, make higher education more affordable and alleviate student pressure by helping American families use their savings to cover more of their children’s education expenses. 

“Student parking and transportation costs add up fast for commuting students — and the problem is only getting worse,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “High commuting costs hurt student retention and success at a time when institutions already see declining enrollments post-COVID, yet many scholarship and financial aid awards still don’t cover transportation expenses. The ACCESS Act empowers students to use their 529 savings plan to cover transportation and parking expenses, ensuring that they have the tools they need to succeed regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status.”

“Commuting to class shouldn’t be what keeps someone from getting their degree. But for a lot of students, the cost of parking or public transit adds up quickly. This is a smart, straightforward way to make things a little bit easier,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “I appreciate Congresswoman McClellan for her work to make college more affordable for more students.”

The ACCESS Act has been endorsed by Commonwealth Savers (formerly Virginia 529), the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN), the Virginia College Advising Network (VCAN), the Virginia Community College System, the College Savings Foundation, and the Council for Independent Colleges of Virginia (CICV).

Specifically, H.R.3574, the Accessible Campus Commuting and Expanded Student Savings Act would:

• Amend Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow 529 savings plans to include student parking and transportation costs at colleges, universities, and apprenticeship programs as eligible educational expenses covered by the 529 Program.

Read the full bill text here. Read the one-pager here.

 “The Accessible Campus and Expanded Student Savings (ACCESS) Act will be especially helpful to community college students in Virginia, for whom transportation expenses for commuting such as gas, car repairs, bus fare, and parking fees are often a significant expense,”said David A. Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System.  “We are grateful to Representative Jennifer McClellan for her support of our students, and her introduction again of the ACCESS Act in this session of Congress.  This legislation will connect students to resources so that they can get to class or an apprenticeship more easily and accelerate their achievement of a life-changing credential or degree.”

 “The Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) is proud to support the ACCESS Act,”said Christopher K. Peace, President of the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia.  “By allowing 529 savings to cover parking and transportation costs, this bill addresses a real but often overlooked barrier to college affordability. We thank Congresswomen McClellan and Sánchez for their leadership in helping more students access and complete their education.”

 “By passing the ACCESS Act, Congress will allow students to use their own savings towards a clear education-related purpose,”said Gail daMote, President of the Education Finance Council. “This legislation makes a simple, but necessary, adjustment that will help students stay on track toward earning their degree or credential. EFC proudly endorses this legislation, and we look forward to collaborating with Rep. McClellan to advance public policies that empower student success.”

“As College Access and Success professionals in Virginia, we call on you to continue to make higher education accessible and affordable,” said the Virginia College Access Network.