Title: A resolution expressing the support of the Senate for the contributions and achievements of student parents and recognizing September 2021 as National Student Parent Month.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution designates September 2021 as National Student Parent Month.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 362 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 362

    Expressing the support of the Senate for the contributions and 
   achievements of student parents and recognizing September 2021 as 
                     National Student Parent Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 2021

   Ms. Duckworth (for herself and Mr. Moran) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing the support of the Senate for the contributions and 
   achievements of student parents and recognizing September 2021 as 
                     National Student Parent Month.

Whereas student parents are individuals with children who attend postsecondary 
        educational institutions;
Whereas student parents make up roughly a quarter of the student population, 
        totaling nearly 4,000,000 individuals;
Whereas 70 percent of student parents are women and 43 percent of student 
        parents are single mothers, with nearly half of such student parents 
        being first-generation college students;
Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of color;
Whereas 47 percent of student parents are military-connected students;
Whereas nearly \2/3\ of student parents have incomes at, below, or near the 
        Federal poverty line;
Whereas 42 percent of student parents attend community colleges and 30 percent 
        attend public or private nonprofit 4-year institutions of higher 
        education;
Whereas 1 in 3 college students enrolled in a health care program is a student 
        parent;
Whereas, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 53 percent of student parents reported 
        food insecurity and 68 percent reported housing insecurity;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional burdens on student parents, 
        including the closure of child care centers, the delay or cancellation 
        of college plans, and increased workloads for the 64 percent of employed 
        student parents who are essential workers;
Whereas, on average, student parents have higher grade point averages than their 
        non-parenting peers, but student parents are 10 times less likely to 
        complete a bachelor's degree within 5 years than students without 
        children;
Whereas a low-income student parent who earns a degree or credential boosts 
        their income, and the earning potential of their children when they 
        become adults, by 17 percent;
Whereas student parents are uniquely motivated to excel in their course of study 
        while often facing challenges, including lack of affordable child care 
        and balancing work responsibilities while attending postsecondary 
        education: Now, therefore be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses support for the contributions and 
        achievements of student parents in seeking and completing a 
        postsecondary education; and
            (2) designates September 2021 as ``National Student Parent 
        Month''.
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