[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S1151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 384--DESIGNATING THE FIRST TUESDAY IN MARCH AS 
                ``NATIONAL PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION DAY''

  Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 384

       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 \3/4\ 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, \1/2\ 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
       Resolved, 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.

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