III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 437 

Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, as ‘‘National 

First-Generation College Celebration Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 3, 2021 

Mr. WARNOCK (for himself, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. 

PADILLA, Mr. TESTER, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. COONS, Ms. 

COLLINS, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. GRASSLEY, and Mr. 

SCOTT of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, 

as ‘‘National First-Generation College Celebration Day’’. 

Whereas November 8 is 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 for low-income and 

first-generation students; 

Whereas the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 

et seq.) helped usher in programs necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, 


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•SRES 437 IS 

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— 

(1) the primary national effort supporting underrepresented students in postsecondary education; and 

(2) designed to identify individuals from low-income, 

first-generation backgrounds in order to— 

(A) prepare them for postsecondary education; 

(B) provide them with support services; and 

(C) motivate and prepare them 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 ‘‘first-generation college student’’ means— 

(1) an individual whose parents did not complete a 

baccalaureate degree; or 

(2) in the case of an individual who regularly resided 

with and received support from only 1 parent, an individual whose parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree; 

Whereas first-generation college students may face additional 

academic, financial, and social challenges that lead to disparate outcomes in college access, completion, and labor 


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•SRES 437 IS 

market outcomes compared to their peers with parents 

who attended at least some college; 

Whereas 56 percent of all college students currently pursuing 

degrees are first-generation college students; 

Whereas, in 2017, the Council for Opportunity in Education 

and the Center for First-generation Student Success 

jointly launched the inaugural First-Generation College 

Celebration; and 

Whereas the First-Generation College Celebration has continued to grow, and institutions of higher education, corporations, nonprofits, and elementary and secondary 

schools now celebrate November 8 as ‘‘National FirstGeneration College Celebration Day’’: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of No3 vember 8, 2021, as ‘‘National First-Generation Col4 lege Celebration Day’’; and 

5 (2) urges all people in the United States— 

6 (A) to celebrate National First-Generation 

7 College Celebration Day throughout the United 

8 States; 

9 (B) to recognize the important role that 

10 first-generation college students play in helping 

11 to develop the future workforce; and 

12 (C) to celebrate the Higher Education Act 

13 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and programs 


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•SRES 437 IS 

1 under that Act that help underrepresented stu2 dents access higher education. 

Æ 


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