[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 374--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 2023 AS ``NATIONAL STUDENT 
                             PARENT MONTH''

  Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Carper) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 374

       Whereas student parents are individuals who have children 
     and who attend postsecondary educational institutions;
       Whereas student parents make up roughly \1/5\ of the 
     postsecondary student population, totaling nearly 4,000,000 
     individuals;
       Whereas 70 percent of student parents are women, and 62 
     percent of student mothers are single parents;
       Whereas 54 percent of single mothers who are enrolled at an 
     institution of higher education work 20 hours or more per 
     week and 43 percent work 30 hours or more per week, which 
     requires those individuals to balance school, work, and 
     caring for their dependents;
       Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of 
     color, particularly female students of color, with mothers 
     representing--
       (1) 40 percent of Black postsecondary students;
       (2) 36 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native 
     postsecondary students;
       (3) 35 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 
     postsecondary students; and
       (4) 26 percent of Hispanic postsecondary students;
       Whereas 47 percent of student parents are military-
     connected students;
       Whereas approximately 794 surviving military spouses are 
     using education benefits from the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs for surviving dependents;
       Whereas 84 percent of military spouses have some college 
     education or credential and, on average, make 25 percent less 
     than their civilian counterparts;
       Whereas 42 percent of student parents attend community 
     colleges and 30 percent attend public or private nonprofit 4-
     year institutions of higher education;
       Whereas the cohort of single mothers currently enrolled in 
     higher education will save approximately $19,900,000,000 in 
     public assistance spending;
       Whereas 53 percent of student parents report food 
     insecurity, and 68 percent report housing insecurity;
       Whereas \2/3\ of student parents live at or near the 
     poverty line and 52 percent of student parents are Federal 
     Pell Grant recipients;
       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 the income of that individual and the 
     earning potential of the children of that individual when 
     those children become adults; and
       Whereas student parents are uniquely motivated to excel in 
     their courses of study but often face challenges, including 
     lack of affordable child care and balancing work 
     responsibilities while attending postsecondary educational 
     institutions: 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 2023 as ``National Student Parent 
     Month''.

                          ____________________