[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 193 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 437--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
 NOVEMBER 8, 2021, AS ``NATIONAL FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE CELEBRATION 
                                 DAY''

  Mr. WARNOCK (for himself, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Booker, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Murphy, Mr. 
Padilla, Mr. Tester, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Coons, Ms. Collins, 
Mr. Risch, Mr. Crapo, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Grassley, and Mr. Scott of South 
Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 437

       Whereas November 8 is the anniversary of the signing of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) by 
     President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 8, 1965;
       Whereas the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et 
     seq.) was focused on increasing postsecondary access and 
     success for students, particularly for low-income and first-
     generation students;
       Whereas the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et 
     seq.) helped usher in programs necessary for postsecondary 
     access, retention, and completion for low-income, first-
     generation college students, including the Federal TRIO 
     Programs under chapter 1 of subpart 2 of part A of title IV 
     of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et 
     seq.) and the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401 of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a);
       Whereas the Federal TRIO Programs under chapter 1 of 
     subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act 
     of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-11 et seq.) are--
       (1) the primary national effort supporting underrepresented 
     students in postsecondary education; and
       (2) designed to identify individuals from low-income, 
     first-generation backgrounds in order to--
       (A) prepare them for postsecondary education;
       (B) provide them with support services; and
       (C) motivate and prepare them for doctoral programs;
       Whereas the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401 of 
     the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) is the 
     primary Federal investment in financial aid for low-income 
     college students, and is used by students at institutions of 
     higher education of their choice;
       Whereas ``first-generation college student'' means--
       (1) an individual whose parents did not complete a 
     baccalaureate degree; or
       (2) in the case of an individual who regularly resided with 
     and received support from only 1 parent, an individual whose 
     parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree;
       Whereas first-generation college students may face 
     additional academic, financial, and social challenges that 
     lead to disparate outcomes in college access, completion, and 
     labor market outcomes compared to their peers with parents 
     who attended at least some college;
       Whereas 56 percent of all college students currently 
     pursuing degrees are first-generation college students;
       Whereas, in 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education 
     and the Center for First-generation Student Success jointly 
     launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration; 
     and
       Whereas the First-Generation College Celebration has 
     continued to grow, and institutions of higher education, 
     corporations, nonprofits, and elementary and secondary 
     schools now celebrate November 8 as ``National First-
     Generation College Celebration Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses support for the designation of November 8, 
     2021, as ``National First-Generation College Celebration 
     Day''; and
       (2) urges all people in the United States--
       (A) to celebrate National First-Generation College 
     Celebration Day throughout the United States;
       (B) to recognize the important role that first-generation 
     college students play in helping to develop the future 
     workforce; and
       (C) to celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and programs under that Act that help 
     underrepresented students access higher education.

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