117 HRES 785 IH: Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, as “National First-Generation College Celebration Day”. U.S. House of Representatives 2021-11-09 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

117th CONGRESS1st Session

H. RES. 785

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 9, 2021

Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Sires, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Correa, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Upton, Mr. Kind, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Grijalva, Miss González-Colón, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Auchincloss, Mrs. Axne, Mr. Takano, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Swalwell, Ms. Craig, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Ms. Meng, Ms. Brownley, Mrs. Trahan, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Rodgers of Washington, Mr. McKinley, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Valadao, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Bucshon, Mr. Cárdenas, Ms. Bourdeaux, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Katko, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Owens, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Gallego, and Ms. Williams of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day.

Whereas November 8 honors the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 8, 1965;Whereas the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) was focused on increasing postsecondary access and success for students, particularly including low-income and first-generation students;Whereas the Act helped usher in programs necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, first-generation college students, including the Federal TRIO Programs under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq.) and the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a);Whereas the Federal TRIO Programs under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a–11 et seq.) are the primary national effort supporting underrepresented students in postsecondary education and are designed to identify individuals from low-income, first-generation backgrounds and prepare them for postsecondary education, provide support services, and motivate and prepare students for doctoral programs;Whereas the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) is the primary Federal investment in financial aid for low-income college students, and is used by students at institutions of higher education of their choice;Whereas a first-generation college student means an individual whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree, or in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree;Whereas first-generation college students may face additional academic, financial, and social challenges that their peers do not face in pursuing higher education;Whereas 56 percent of all current college students currently pursuing degrees are first-generation;Whereas the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success jointly launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration in 2017; andWhereas the First-Generation College Celebration has continued to grow, and institutions of higher education, corporations, nonprofits, and elementary schools and secondary schools now celebrate November 8 as First-Generation College Celebration Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives urges all people in the United States to—(1)celebrate National First-Generation College Celebration Day throughout the United States;(2)recognize the important role that first-generation college students play in helping to develop the future workforce; and(3)celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and its programs that help underrepresented students access higher education.