[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 854 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 854

    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2023, as 
         ``National First-Generation College Celebration Day''.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 8, 2023

 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas, Ms. 
Bonamici, Mr. Landsman, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Mullin, 
   Mr. Allred, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
   Cardenas, and Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2023, 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 face additional academic, financial, 
        and social barriers compared to what their continuing-generation peers 
        face while pursuing higher education;
Whereas 56 percent of all current baccalaureate students currently pursuing 
        degrees are first-generation;
Whereas one-third of all community and technical college students identify as 
        first-generation;
Whereas one-third of all community and technical college students identify as 
        first-generation, with 12.7 percent having attained an associate's 
        degree and 11.9 percent having attained a certificate from a community 
        or technical college;
Whereas first-generation students navigate multiple competing priorities, and 66 
        percent were employed while in college, in paid jobs, internships, or 
        work study;
Whereas first-generation students hold significant roles within their household, 
        with 30 percent having dependents to care for while in school;
Whereas 45 percent of first-generation graduates expect to attain a master's 
        degree, and 19 percent expect to attain a doctoral degree upon 
        completing a bachelor's degree;
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; and
Whereas 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
    Resolved, 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 historically excluded 
        students access higher education.
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