[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 845--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF 
  SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, TO SEPTEMBER 29, 2024, AS ``ASIAN AMERICAN AND 
      NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK''

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

                              S. Res. 845

       Whereas the Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-Serving Institutions Program was originally 
     authorized on September 27, 2007, by the College Cost 
     Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-84; 121 
     Stat. 784);
       Whereas 2024 marks the 17th anniversary of the 
     establishment of 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, over 270 colleges and universities 
     have been eligible as Asian American and Native American 
     Pacific Islander-serving institutions throughout the United 
     States, including the United States territories in the 
     Pacific;
       Whereas there are 207 funded and 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 2023-2024 academic year, 69 Asian 
     American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
     institutions are or have been funded 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 majority of whom are overwhelmingly from 
     families with low incomes and are first-generation college 
     students;
       Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific 
     Islander-serving institutions comprise only 6.9 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 52 percent of the 
     associate's degrees and 45 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 over \1/3\ of the funded Asian American and Native 
     American Pacific Islander-serving institutions maintain an 
     Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 
     enrollment of over 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 cocurricular programs, research, and services, 
     which increase 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, and Pacific Islander and 
     other students who attend their institutions;
       (2) encourages institutions of higher education that are 
     eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
     serving institutions to obtain funding and establish programs 
     to serve the unique needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 
     and Pacific Islander students, families, and communities;
       (3) recognizes the 17th anniversary of the establishment of 
     Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
     institutions and expresses support for the designation of 
     ``Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 
     Institutions Week''; and
       (4) 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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