IV 

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 lowincome, first-generation college students, including the 


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•HRES 1601 IH 

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; 


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•HRES 1601 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges all 

2 people in the United States to— 

3 (1) celebrate ‘‘National First-Generation Col4 lege Celebration Day’’ throughout the United States; 


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•HRES 1601 IH 

1 (2) recognize the important role that first-gen2 eration college students play in helping to develop 

3 the future workforce; and 

4 (3) celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 

5 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and its programs that help 

6 historically excluded students access higher edu7 cation. 

Æ 


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