[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 140 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 565--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 12, 
        2016, AS ``NATIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK''

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

                              S. Res. 565

       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting 
     institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate 
     enrollment of not less than 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 13 
     percent of all non-profit institutions of higher education, 
     yet serve more than 63 percent of all Hispanic undergraduate 
     students, enrolling more than 1,750,000 Hispanic 
     undergraduate students and more than 86,000 Hispanic graduate 
     students in 2014;
       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 more than 300 colleges and universities in 2014;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are located in 18 
     States and Puerto Rico and emerging Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions are located in 33 States and Washington, DC;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the 
     institutions are located;
       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 12, 2016, as 
     ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week 
     with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
     demonstrate support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

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