[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 143 (Friday, September 23, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 280--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 19, 
     2011, AS ``NATIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK'' AND 
 RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE HISPANIC ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES 
                            AND UNIVERSITIES

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Reid of Nevada, Mr. Udall 
of New Mexico, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Begich, Mr. Reed of Rhode 
Island, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Nelson of Florida, 
Mr. Coons, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs. Hutchison) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 280

       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions play an important 
     role in educating many underprivileged students and helping 
     those students attain their full potential through higher 
     education;
       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are degree-granting 
     institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate 
     enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students;
       Whereas in 2010, there were 307 Hispanic-serving 
     institutions in the United States, enrolling 1,348,436 
     Hispanic students in nonprofit postsecondary schools;
       Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the 
     Hispanic-serving institutions are located;
       Whereas 54 percent of Hispanic students in the United 
     States attend nonprofit, postsecondary Hispanic-serving 
     institutions;
       Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-
     serving institutions to the United States strengthens the 
     culture of the United States;
       Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-serving 
     institutions are deserving of national recognition;
       Whereas 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and 
     Universities, an organization that works to improve the 
     capacity of Hispanic-serving institutions in helping students 
     across the United States succeed;
       Whereas the Hispanic Association of Colleges and 
     Universities fulfills its mission by promoting the 
     development of member colleges and universities, improving 
     access to, and the quality of, postsecondary educational 
     opportunities for Hispanic students, and meeting the needs of 
     business, industry, and government through the development 
     and sharing of resources, information, and expertise; and
       Whereas the week beginning September 19, 2011, would be an 
     appropriate week for national recognition of Hispanic-serving 
     institutions: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic-
     serving institutions across the United States;
       (2) recognizes the achievements of the Hispanic Association 
     of Colleges and Universities throughout the 25 years since 
     the establishment of the organization;
       (3) designates the week beginning September 19, 2011, as 
     ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''; and
       (4) calls on the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, 
     activities, and programs to demonstrate support for Hispanic-
     serving institutions.

                          ____________________