[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5711-S5712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 703--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 14 , 
          2020, AS NATIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Bennet, 
Mr. Braun, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Gardner, Ms. Harris, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. 
Loeffler, Ms. McSally, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tillis, 
Mr. Udall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 703

       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 539 Hispanic-Serving Institutions operate in the 
     United States;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions represent 17 percent 
     of all nonprofit institutions of higher education, yet serve 
     26.8 percent of all students and 67 percent of all Hispanic 
     students, enrolling 2,533,333 Hispanics;
       Whereas, as of September 2020, the number of ``emerging 
     Hispanic-Serving Institutions'', defined as institutions that 
     do not yet meet the threshold of 25 percent Hispanic full-
     time equivalent enrollment but serve a Hispanic student 
     population of between 15 and 24.9 percent, stands at 352 
     institutions operating in 34 States and Puerto Rico;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are located in 25 
     States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico;

[[Page S5712]]

       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are actively involved 
     in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the 
     institutions are located;
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are leading efforts 
     to increase Hispanic participation in science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics (commonly referred to as 
     ``STEM'');
       Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are engines of 
     economic mobility and a major contributor to the economic 
     prosperity of the United States;
       Whereas, of the institutions of higher education ranked by 
     Opportunity Insights based on the economic mobility of the 
     graduates of those institutions, 7 of the top 10, including 
     the top-ranked institution, are Hispanic-Serving 
     Institutions;
       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 in the States, the District of Columbia, 
     and Puerto Rico;
       (2) designates the week beginning September 14, 2020, 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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