,,iii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,res4 #gia  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,decemb] #c1 #bjbj,mr4
 ,coons 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,scott ( ,s\?  
,c>ol9a1 ,mr4 ,c>p]1 & ,ms4 ,ern/7      
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
consid]$ & agre$ to  ,,resolution       
,designat+ ,novemb] #bjbj z ,national   
,college ,application ,mon?4  ,:]eas    
equality ( opportunity = all p is "o ( !
 noble/ aspirations ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  
,:]eas data on ! b5efits ( high]        
education demon/rate t1 9 spite ( ongo+ 
b>ri]s to access & /ud5t success1       
colleges & univ]sities c /ill provide   
pa?ways to economic opportunity2 ,:]eas 
! ,unit$ ,/ates built a ?riv+ middle    
class by fund+ colleges & univ]sities to
 provide av5ues to individual economic  
opportunity & %>$ economic gr[?2 ,:]eas 
high] education enhances ! economic     
mobility ( individuals1 :i* is evid5c$  
by-- 7#a7 a f9d+ by ! ,brook+s ,in/itute
 t ! m$ian lifetime e>n+s ( hold]s ( an 
associate degree are uni=mly great] ?an 

! m$ian lifetime e>n+s ( hold]s ( solely
 a high s*ool diploma2 &  7#b7 a f9d+ by
 ! ,pew ,economic ,mobility ,project t1 
= an individual born 9 ! l[e/ income    
qu9tile1 obta9+ a #d-ye> degree or a    
high] degree is associat$ )-- 7,a7 an   
approximately #gj p]c5t diff]5ce 9 !    
probability ( t individual e>n+ an      
income outside ! l[e/ income qu9tile2 & 
7,b7 a ?reefold diff]5ce 9 ! probability
 ( t individual go+ on to e>n an income 
9 ! highe/ income qu9tile2  ,:]eas !    
,bureau ( ,labor ,/ati/ics reports t--  
7#a7 ! unemploym5t rate ( high s*ool    
graduates 9 #bjai :o did n imm$iately   
matriculate to an in/itution ( high]    
education ! foll[+ fall seme/] 0 #ah4b  
p]c5t1 :i* is significantly high] ?an ! 
ov]all unemploym5t rate ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates2  7#b7 approximately #cd p]c5t ( 
high s*ool graduates 9 #bjai did n      
imm$iately matriculate to an in/itution 
( high] education ! foll[+ fall seme/]1 
:i* repres5ts a decl9e f ! prior ye> 9 !
 rate ( imm$iate matriculation ( new    

high s*ool graduates to an in/itution ( 
high] education2  7#c7 ! decl9e describ$
 9 p>agraph 7#b7 0 mo/ notable among    
,african ,am]ican high s*ool graduates1 
:o fac$ a #bj p]c5t decl9e f ! prior ye>
 9 imm$iate matriculation to an         
in/itution ( high] education2 &  7#d7 ! 
unemploym5t rate ( adults ) a ba*elor's 
degree & ! unemploym5t rate ( adults ^: 
highe/ cr$5tial is a high s*ool diploma 
diff] by #bj p]c5tage po9ts1 a gap t has
 gr[n l>g] z a result ( ,,covid-#ai2    
,:]eas ! ,national ,/ud5t ,cle>+h\se    
reports t und]graduate enrollm5t 9      
colleges & univ]sities is decl9+        
precipit\sly 9 ! mid/ ( ! ,,covid-#ai   
p&emic1 p>ticul>ly = nontraditional     
/ud5ts2 ,:]eas ! complexity ( f9ancial  
aid sy/ems & ris+ college co/s c s]ve z 
additional det]r5ts or b>ri]s = /ud5ts &
 families z !y assess ! viability (     
high] education programs z a po/second>y
 option2 ,:]eas _m /ud5ts /ruggle to    
id5tify & comp>e po/second>y options due
 to-- 7#a7 difficulties access+ s*ool   

c\nsel+ s]vices1 :i* is evid5c$ by an   
e/imation ( ! ,am]ican ,s*ool ,c\nselor 
,association t ! /ud5t-to-c\nselor ratio
 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates is #dcj to #a2  7#b7 
an abs5ce ( reliable programmatic &     
in/itutional outcome data2 &  7#c7 a    
lack ( comp>able & und]/&able college   
f9ancial aid (f]s2 ,:]eas1 9 addition to
 exp&+ outrea* & support to rec5t high  
s*ool graduates1 colleges & univ]sities 
mu/ also exp& outrea* & support to all  
und]graduate /ud5ts2 ,:]eas ! ,dige/ (  
,education ,/ati/ics = #bjai ( !        
,national ,c5t] = ,education ,/ati/ics &
 ! #bjae-af ,national ,po/second>y      
,/ud5t ,aid ,survey f\nd t1 (           
und]graduate /ud5ts 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates-- 
7#a7 approximately #bg p]c5t are old]   
?an #be ye>s ( age2  7#b7 #ch p]c5t are 
enroll$ "p-"t2  7#c7 #bd p]c5t are      
p>5ts2 &  7#d7 #hf p]c5t live (f-campus2
 ,:]eas ! ,national ,c5t] = ,education  
,/ati/ics highlights t completion ( !   
,free ,application = ,f$]al ,/ud5t ,aid 
is "o ( ! be/ pr$ictors ( imm$iate      

college enrollm5t1 z high s*ool s5iors  
:o complete ! =m are #hd p]c5t m likely 
to beg9 po/second>y education 9 ! fall  
foll[+ high s*ool graduation2 ,:]eas    
applications = ,/ate-bas$ f9ancial aid  
are available 9 _m ,/ates = /ud5ts :o d 
n qualify = ,f$]al /ud5t aid2 & ,:]eas !
 ongo+ impact ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic on 
communities1 families1 & educational    
sy/ems across ! ,unit$ ,/ates und]scores
 & re9=ces ! value ( ensur+ t all       
individuals1 includ+ /ud5ts enroll$ 9   
high s*ool & work+ adults-- 7#a7 und]/& 
_! po/second>y options2  7#b7 und]/&    
college f9anc+ opportunities2 &  7#c7 h 
support to navigate ! college           
application & f9ancial aid processes3   
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7    
designates ,novemb] #bjbj z ,national   
,college ,application ,mon?2  7#b7      
enc\rages ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to--    
7,a7 evaluate options = pursu+ high]    
education2  7,b7 submit a ,free         
,application = ,f$]al ,/ud5t ,aid or an 
appropriate application = ,/ate-bas$    

f9ancial aid 9 ord] to receive college  
f9anc+ opportunities2 &  7,c7 support e 
/ud5t1 reg>dless ( ! backgr\nd1 age1 or 
res\rces ( ! /ud5t1 9 obta9+ ! skills & 
k ne$$ to ?rive2  7#c7 supports ef=ts to
 bett] assi/ l[-income & fir/-g5]ation  
college /ud5ts ?r\gh\t ! f9ancial aid & 
college application process2  7#d7 urges
 public (ficials1 educators1 p>5ts1     
/ud5ts1 & communities 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
to obs]ve ,national ,college            
,application ,mon? ) appropriate        
activities & programs design$ to        
enc\rage /ud5ts to consid]1 rese>*1 &   
apply to college & = f9ancial aid2 &    
7#e7 comm5ds tea*]s1 c\nselors1 m5tors1 
& p>5ts :o support /ud5ts ?r\gh\t !     
college application process1 z well z ! 
organizations & in/itutions p>tn]+ to   
elim9ate b>ri]s to high] education4