[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6657-S6658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 255--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 14, 
          2015, AS NATIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Heller, Mr. Kaine, 
Mr. Markey, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Peters, Mr. Rubio, Mr. 
Schumer, Mr. Udall, Mr. Warner, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 255

       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting 
     institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate 
     enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students;
       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 more than 400 Hispanic-Serving Institutions operate 
     in the United States;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions represent just 12 
     percent of all nonprofit institutions of higher education, 
     yet serve nearly 60 percent of all Hispanic undergraduate 
     students, enrolling more than 1,700,000 Hispanic 
     undergraduate students in 2013;
       Whereas the number of ``emerging Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions'', defined as institutions that do not yet meet 
     the threshold of 25 percent Hispanic enrollment but serve a 
     Hispanic student population of between 15 and 24 percent, 
     grew to nearly 300 colleges and universities in 2013;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are located in 21 
     States and Puerto Rico, and emerging Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions are located in 29 States and Washington, DC;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the 
     institutions are located;

[[Page S6658]]

       Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions to the United States strengthens the 
     culture of the United States; and
       Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions across the United States;
       (2) designates the week beginning September 14, 2015, as 
     National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week; and
       (3) 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.

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