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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1601 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1601

    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2024, as 
         ``National First-Generation College Celebration Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 26, 2024

  Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Davis of Illinois, Ms. Bonamici, and Ms. Williams of Georgia) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2024, as 
         ``National First-Generation College Celebration Day''.

Whereas November 8 honors 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 
        including low-income and first-generation students;
Whereas the Act 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 the primary national effort supporting underrepresented 
        students in postsecondary education and are designed to identify 
        individuals from low-income, first-generation backgrounds and prepare 
        them for postsecondary education, provide support services, and motivate 
        and prepare students 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 a ``first-generation college student'' means an individual whose parents 
        did not complete a baccalaureate degree, or in the case of any 
        individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one 
        parent, an individual whose parent did not complete a baccalaureate 
        degree;
Whereas first-generation college students face additional academic, financial, 
        and social barriers compared to what their continuing-generation peers 
        face while pursuing higher education;
Whereas 54 percent of all current undergraduate students in the United States 
        identify as first-generation;
Whereas 45 percent of students currently pursuing bachelor's degrees are first-
        generation;
Whereas two-thirds of all current community and technical college students 
        identify as first-generation, with 14.2 percent having attained an 
        associate's degree and 10.1 percent having attained an undergraduate 
        certificate;
Whereas first-generation students navigate multiple competing priorities, and 73 
        percent were employed while in college, in paid jobs, internships, or 
        work study;
Whereas first-generation students hold significant roles within their household, 
        with 27 percent having dependents to care for while in school;
Whereas 37 percent of first-generation graduates expect to attain a master's 
        degree, and 16 percent expect to attain a doctoral degree upon 
        completing a bachelor's degree;
Whereas the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-
        generation Student Success jointly launched the inaugural First-
        Generation College Celebration in 2017; and
Whereas the First-Generation College Celebration has continued to grow, and 
        institutions of higher education, corporations, nonprofits, and 
        elementary schools and secondary schools now celebrate November 8 as 
        ``First-Generation College Celebration Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges all people in the 
United States to--
            (1) celebrate ``National First-Generation College 
        Celebration Day'' throughout the United States;
            (2) recognize the important role that first-generation 
        college students play in helping to develop the future 
        workforce; and
            (3) celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001 et seq.) and its programs that help historically excluded 
        students access higher education.
                                 <all>
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