Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23) relaunched the California Public Higher Education Caucus (CPHEC) for the 119^th Congress.  

First launched in 2014 by Rep. Bera and former Rep. Jeff Denham, CPHEC is a bipartisan group of lawmakers who advocate for the University of California (UC), California State University (CSU) and California Community College (CCC) schools and their students. The CPHEC will work to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of California’s public higher education system. 

“As a proud alumnus of the University of California system and a former educator, I’m pleased to relaunch the bipartisan California Public Higher Education Caucus with Representative Jay Obernolte,” said Representative Ami Bera, a former dean of admissions and clinical professor at UC Davis. “I earned both my B.S. and M.D. from UC Irvine, working part-time and relying on federal student loans to put myself through medical school. Because of that investment in my education, I was able to graduate with less than $10,000 in debt. We need to ensure today’s students have that same opportunity— affordable, high-quality public higher education that opens doors and strengthens our economy.”

“As a proud graduate of UCLA, I know firsthand the impact that California’s public universities have in providing students with the tools to succeed,” said Representative Jay Obernolte. “Our state’s higher education system is a critical driver of economic growth, workforce development, and innovation. By relaunching the California Public Higher Education Caucus, we are reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that all students have access to a world-class, affordable education. I look forward to working with my colleagues to support policies that strengthen our universities and prepare the next generation of leaders.”  

“On behalf of the California Community Colleges and our 2.1 million students, we are grateful to Representatives Bera and Obernolte for re-launching the bipartisan California Public Higher Education Caucus,” said CCC Chancellor Sonya Christian. “Community colleges are critical to providing economic mobility to students from all walks of life, from those seeking to transfer to a four-year university to adult learners seeking new skills and training to enter the workforce and advance their careers. We are pleased to partner with the Caucus, with California’s congressional delegation, and with our four-year partners at the University of California and the California State University to provide economic opportunity to all of our students.”

“The creation of the California Public Higher Education Caucus in the 119th Congress signals a powerful recommitment to the transformative potential of public higher education in our state” said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. “We welcome this strategic partnership that will help the California State University system continue opening doors of opportunity for our diverse student population and strengthening California's workforce. "

“The University of California is proud to support the relaunch of the California Public Higher Education Caucus, and we thank Representatives Jay Obernolte and Ami Bera for their bipartisan leadership” said University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D.  “California’s public higher education institutions are leaders in expanding access to lifechanging education for students from all backgrounds and also serve as powerful economic engines for our state. The University is committed to partnering with the caucus to advance priorities that support our students, strengthen public higher education, and ensure California remains a leader in academic excellence and innovation."

The following Members are joining the California Public Higher Education Caucus for the 119th Congress:

Reps. Ami Bera [D-CA-06]; Jay Obernolte [R-CA-23]; Nanette Barragán [D-CA-44]; Julia Brownley [D-CA-26]; Gil Cisneros [D-CA-31]; Lou Correa [D-CA-46]; Jim Costa [D-CA-21]; Judy Chu [D-CA-28]; Salud Carbajal [D-CA-24]; John Garamendi [D-CA-08]; Robert Garcia [D-CA-42]; Josh Harder [D-CA-09]; Sara Jacobs [D-CA-51]; Ted Lieu [D-CA-36]; Kevin Mullin [D-CA-15]; Jimmy Panetta [D-CA-19]; Scott Peters [D-CA-50]; Raul Ruiz [D-CA-25]; Linda Sánchez [D-CA-38]; Eric Swalwell [D-CA-14]; Mark Takano [D-CA-39]; Derek Tran [D-CA45]; Maxine Waters [D-CA-43].

Nearly 8 out of 10 college students in California attend a public institution. The UCs’ 10 campuses propel the state’s economic and country’s technological progress by generating $82 billion in economic activity per year, supporting 529,000 jobs through activities and spending, creating four inventions per day, and producing 13,702 patents—more than any other university.  

The CSUs are the nation’s largest four-year public university system with 23 schools in every region of California, enrolling more than 450,000 students and offering upwards of 4,000 degree programs that align with workforce demands. Further, the California Community Colleges remain the largest system of higher education in the country and one of the top employers in the state, with 2 million students and 88,000 faculty and staff at 116 colleges in 2023.  

California’s three public higher education systems are key to advancing the state’s economic leadership in the country and maintaining our position as the 5th largest economy in the world by GDP if California were counted as its own country. They play a critical role in spurring job growth and creation, driving innovation through research and development, and producing a skilled workforce who usually secure higher-paying jobs.