S.Res. 437 — Introduced in Senate

III 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 437 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 3, 2021Mr. 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 RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day. 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 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.