IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 854 

Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2023, as ‘‘National 

First-Generation College Celebration Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 8, 2023 

Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas, Ms. 

BONAMICI, Mr. LANDSMAN, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. 

MULLIN, Mr. ALLRED, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. CLEAVER, Ms. 

NORTON, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, and Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2023, 

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 lowVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:54 Nov 09, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR854.IH HR854

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•HRES 854 IH 

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; 


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•HRES 854 IH 

Whereas 56 percent of all current baccalaureate students currently pursuing degrees are first-generation; 

Whereas one-third of all community and technical college students identify as first-generation; 

Whereas one-third of all community and technical college students identify as first-generation, with 12.7 percent having attained an associate’s degree and 11.9 percent having attained a certificate from a community or technical 

college; 

Whereas first-generation students navigate multiple competing priorities, and 66 percent were employed while in 

college, in paid jobs, internships, or work study; 

Whereas first-generation students hold significant roles within their household, with 30 percent having dependents to 

care for while in school; 

Whereas 45 percent of first-generation graduates expect to 

attain a master’s degree, and 19 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— 


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•HRES 854 IH 

1 (1) celebrate ‘‘National First-Generation Col2 lege Celebration Day’’ throughout the United States; 

3 (2) recognize the important role that first-gen4 eration college students play in helping to develop 

5 the future workforce; and 

6 (3) celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 

7 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and its programs that help 

8 historically excluded students access higher edu9 cation. 

Æ 


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