III 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 384 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 29, 2012 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the first Tuesday in March as National Public Higher Education Day.

Whereas the economic strength of the United States and its ability to create jobs and compete globally requires a skilled workforce educated for a 21st century economy; Whereas according to the Department of Education, over 14,000,000 students attend public postsecondary degree-granting institutions across every State in the United States, comprising almost ¾ of postsecondary students in the United States; Whereas the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has found that publicly supported community colleges “enroll almost half of all U.S. undergraduate students and are essential for work force training and retraining”; Whereas according to the Center for Measuring University Performance, ½ of the top 50 research universities in the United States are public institutions, from Virginia to Washington, Texas to Minnesota, Ohio to Colorado, and many more; Whereas according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, during the 2009–2010 academic year, public universities made up 2 of the top 5 most popular choices for students who used benefits from the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (38 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.); and Whereas the first Tuesday in the month of March is an appropriate day to designate as National Public Higher Education Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates the first Tuesday in the month of March as National Public Higher Education Day; (2)recognizes the importance of public higher education for growing a skilled domestic workforce, promoting research and innovation, and advancing the global competitiveness of the United States; and (3)calls upon the people of the United States to observe National Public Higher Education Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.