[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 378--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE 
 WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25 THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2023, AS ``ASIAN AMERICAN AND 
      NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK''

  Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. 
Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Kaine, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
Schatz, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, and Mr. 
Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 378

       Whereas the Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions Program was originally 
     established using funds authorized by the College Cost 
     Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84; 121 Stat. 784), 
     which was enacted on September 27, 2007;
       Whereas 2023 marks the 16th anniversary of the 
     establishment of Federal funding for Asian American and 
     Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions by 
     Congress;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions are degree-granting 
     postsecondary institutions that have an undergraduate 
     enrollment of not less than 10 percent Asian American, Native 
     Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students;
       Whereas the purpose of the Asian American and Native 
     American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program is to 
     improve the availability and quality of postsecondary 
     education programs to serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 
     and Pacific Islander students;
       Whereas, since 2007, more than 260 colleges and 
     universities throughout the United States, including the 
     United States territories in the Pacific, have been eligible 
     for Federal funding as Asian American and Native American 
     Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions;
       Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, 
     there are 206 eligible Asian American and Native American 
     Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions operating in the United 
     States, including the United States territories in the 
     Pacific;
       Whereas, as of the 2022-2023 academic year, 58 Asian 
     American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 
     Institutions were receiving or had received Federal funding 
     in the United States, including the United States territories 
     in the Pacific;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions are of critical importance, as 
     they enroll, support, and graduate large proportions of Asian 
     American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college 
     students, the overwhelming majority of whom are first-
     generation and from families with low income;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions comprise only 6.5 percent of 
     all institutions of higher education, yet enroll 46 percent 
     of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 
     undergraduate students in the United States, including the 
     United States territories in the Pacific;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions employ many of the Asian 
     American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander faculty, 
     staff, and administrators in the United States;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions award more than 50 percent of 
     the associate's degrees and more than 40 percent of the 
     bachelor's degrees attained by all Asian American, Native 
     Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in the United 
     States, including the United States territories in the 
     Pacific;
       Whereas more than \1/2\ of federally funded Asian American 
     and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions 
     maintain an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific 
     Islander enrollment of more than 20 percent;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions play a vital role in preserving 
     the diverse culture, experiences, heritage, and history of 
     Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions create culturally relevant 
     academic and co-curricular programs, research, and services, 
     which increase student retention, transfer, and graduation 
     rates, while also enhancing the overall educational 
     experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific 
     Islander students;
       Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Asian 
     American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 
     Institutions strengthens the culture of the United States; 
     and
       Whereas the achievements and goals of Asian American and 
     Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions deserve 
     national recognition: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Asian American 
     and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions in 
     their work to provide quality educational opportunities to 
     Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other 
     students who attend their institutions;
       (2) encourages institutions of higher education that are 
     eligible to receive Federal funding as Asian American and 
     Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions to 
     obtain Federal funding and establish programs to serve the 
     unique needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific 
     Islander students, families, and communities;
       (3) recognizes 2023 as the 16th anniversary of the 
     establishment of the Asian American and Native American 
     Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program;
       (4) designates the week of September 25 through October 1, 
     2023, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
     Serving Institutions Week; and
       (5) calls on the people of the United States, including the 
     United States territories in the Pacific, and interested 
     groups to observe Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions Week with appropriate 
     activities, ceremonies, and programs to demonstrate support 
     for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
     Serving Institutions.

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