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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 845 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 845

   Expressing support for the recognition of September 23, 2024, to 
  September 29, 2024, as ``Asian American and Native American Pacific 
                 Islander-Serving Institutions Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2024

   Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
Brown, Ms. Butler, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Fetterman, 
  Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
 Schatz, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Smith, 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 September 23, 2024, to 
  September 29, 2024, 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 authorized on September 27, 2007, by 
        the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-84; 
        121 Stat. 784);
Whereas 2024 marks the 17th anniversary of the establishment of Asian American 
        and Native 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, over 270 colleges and universities have been eligible as 
        Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions 
        throughout the United States, including the United States territories in 
        the Pacific;
Whereas there are 207 funded and 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 2023-2024 academic year, 69 Asian American and Native 
        American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are or have been funded 
        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 
        college students, the majority of whom are overwhelmingly from families 
        with low incomes and are first-generation college students;
Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions 
        comprise only 6.9 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 52 percent of the associate's degrees and 45 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 over \1/3\ of the funded Asian American and Native American Pacific 
        Islander-serving institutions maintain an Asian American, Native 
        Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander enrollment of over 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 cocurricular programs, research, 
        and services, which increase 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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Asian American 
        and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions in 
        their work to provide quality educational opportunities to 
        Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander and other 
        students who attend their institutions;
            (2) encourages institutions of higher education that are 
        eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
        serving institutions to obtain funding and establish programs 
        to serve the unique needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 
        and Pacific Islander students, families, and communities;
            (3) recognizes the 17th anniversary of the establishment of 
        Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
        institutions and expresses support for the designation of 
        ``Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving 
        Institutions Week''; and
            (4) calls on the people of the United States, including the 
        United States territories in the Pacific, and interested groups 
        to observe ``Asian American and Native American Pacific 
        Islander-Serving Institutions Week'' with appropriate 
        activities, ceremonies, and programs to demonstrate support for 
        Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
        institutions.
                                 <all>
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