[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 362--EXPRESSING THE SUPPORT OF THE SENATE FOR THE 
   CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF STUDENT PARENTS AND RECOGNIZING 
            SEPTEMBER 2021 AS NATIONAL STUDENT PARENT MONTH

  Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Mr. Moran) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 362

       Whereas student parents are individuals with children who 
     attend postsecondary educational institutions;
       Whereas student parents make up roughly a quarter of the 
     student population, totaling nearly 4,000,000 individuals;
       Whereas 70 percent of student parents are women and 43 
     percent of student parents are single mothers, with nearly 
     half of such student parents being first-generation college 
     students;
       Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of 
     color;
       Whereas 47 percent of student parents are military-
     connected students;
       Whereas nearly \2/3\ of student parents have incomes at, 
     below, or near the Federal poverty line;
       Whereas 42 percent of student parents attend community 
     colleges and 30 percent attend public or private nonprofit 4-
     year institutions of higher education;
       Whereas 1 in 3 college students enrolled in a health care 
     program is a student parent;
       Whereas, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 53 percent of 
     student parents reported food insecurity and 68 percent 
     reported housing insecurity;
       Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional burdens 
     on student parents, including the closure of child care 
     centers, the delay or cancellation of college plans, and 
     increased workloads for the 64 percent of employed student 
     parents who are essential workers;
       Whereas, on average, student parents have higher grade 
     point averages than their non-parenting peers, but student 
     parents are 10 times less likely to complete a bachelor's 
     degree within 5 years than students without children;
       Whereas a low-income student parent who earns a degree or 
     credential boosts their income, and the earning potential of 
     their children when they become adults, by 17 percent;
       Whereas student parents are uniquely motivated to excel in 
     their course of study while often facing challenges, 
     including lack of affordable child care and balancing work 
     responsibilities while attending postsecondary education: 
     Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses support for the contributions and 
     achievements of student parents in seeking and completing a 
     postsecondary education; and
       (2) designates September 2021 as ``National Student Parent 
     Month''.

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