III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 378 

Expressing support for the recognition of the week of September 25 through 

October 1, 2023, as ‘‘Asian American and Native American Pacific 

Islander-Serving Institutions Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 28 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023 

Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. CASEY, Ms. 

DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. FETTERMAN, Mr. 

KAINE, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. PADILLA, 

Ms. ROSEN, Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. SMITH, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. WYDEN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the recognition of the week of September 25 through October 1, 2023, as ‘‘Asian American 

and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week’’. 

Whereas the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program was originally established using funds authorized by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110–84; 121 Stat. 784), 

which was enacted on September 27, 2007; 

Whereas 2023 marks the 16th anniversary of the establishment of Federal funding for Asian American and Native 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 378 IS 

American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions by Congress; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions are degree-granting postsecondary institutions that have an undergraduate enrollment of not less than 10 percent Asian American, Native 

Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; 

Whereas the purpose of the Asian American and Native 

American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program 

is to improve the availability and quality of postsecondary 

education programs to serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; 

Whereas, since 2007, more than 260 colleges and universities 

throughout the United States, including the United 

States territories in the Pacific, have been eligible for 

Federal funding as Asian American and Native American 

Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions; 

Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, there 

are 206 eligible Asian American and Native American 

Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions operating in the 

United States, including the United States territories in 

the Pacific; 

Whereas, as of the 2022–2023 academic year, 58 Asian 

American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 

Institutions were receiving or had received Federal funding in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions are of critical importance, as 

they enroll, support, and graduate large proportions of 

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 378 IS 

college students, the overwhelming majority of whom are 

first-generation and from families with low income; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions comprise only 6.5 percent of 

all institutions of higher education, yet enroll 46 percent 

of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions employ many of the Asian 

American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander faculty, 

staff, and administrators in the United States; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions award more than 50 percent 

of the associate’s degrees and more than 40 percent of 

the bachelor’s degrees attained by all Asian American, 

Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in 

the United States, including the United States territories 

in the Pacific; 

Whereas more than 1⁄2 of federally funded Asian American 

and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions maintain an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 

Pacific Islander enrollment of more than 20 percent; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions play a vital role in preserving 

the diverse culture, experiences, heritage, and history of 

Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; 

Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions create culturally relevant academic and co-curricular programs, research, and services, 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•SRES 378 IS 

which increase student retention, transfer, and graduation rates, while also enhancing the overall educational 

experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and 

Pacific Islander students; 

Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Asian American 

and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions strengthens the culture of the United States; and 

Whereas the achievements and goals of Asian American and 

Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of 

3 Asian American and Native American Pacific Is4 lander-Serving Institutions in their work to provide 

5 quality educational opportunities to Asian American, 

6 Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other stu7 dents who attend their institutions; 

8 (2) encourages institutions of higher education 

9 that are eligible to receive Federal funding as Asian 

10 American and Native American Pacific Islander11 Serving Institutions to obtain Federal funding and 

12 establish programs to serve the unique needs of 

13 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Is14 lander students, families, and communities; 

15 (3) recognizes 2023 as the 16th anniversary of 

16 the establishment of the Asian American and Native 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•SRES 378 IS 

1 American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Pro2 gram; 

3 (4) designates the week of September 25 

4 through October 1, 2023, as Asian American and 

5 Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institu6 tions Week; and 

7 (5) calls on the people of the United States, in8 cluding the United States territories in the Pacific, 

9 and interested groups to observe Asian American 

10 and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Insti11 tutions Week with appropriate activities, ceremonies, 

12 and programs to demonstrate support for Asian 

13 American and Native American Pacific Islander14 Serving Institutions. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB