Title: A resolution expressing the support of the Senate for the contributions and achievements of student parents and recognizing September 2022 as National Student Parent Month.
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution designates September 2022 as National Student Parent Month.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 777 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 777

    Expressing the support of the Senate for the contributions and 
   achievements of student parents and recognizing September 2022 as 
                     National Student Parent Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 20, 2022

   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 2022 as 
                     National Student Parent Month.

Whereas student parents are individuals who have children and who attend 
        postsecondary educational institutions;
Whereas student parents make up roughly \1/4\ of the postsecondary 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 \1/2\ of such student parents 
        being first-generation college students;
Whereas 54 percent of single mothers who are enrolled at an institution of 
        higher education work 20 hours or more per week and 43 percent work 30 
        hours or more per week, which requires those individuals to balance 
        school, work, and caring for their dependents;
Whereas 51 percent of student parents are students of color, particularly female 
        students of color, with mothers representing--

    (1) 40 percent of Black postsecondary students;

    (2) 36 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native postsecondary 
students;

    (3) 35 percent of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander postsecondary 
students; and

    (4) 26 percent of Hispanic postsecondary students;

Whereas 47 percent of student parents are military-connected students;
Whereas approximately 2,500 surviving military spouses, a majority of whom are 
        parenting at least 1 child, are using education benefits from the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs for surviving dependents;
Whereas 84 percent of military spouses have some college education or credential 
        and, on average, make 25 percent less than their civilian counterparts;
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 53 percent of student parents reported food insecurity and 68 percent 
        reported housing insecurity;
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 the 
        income of that individual, and the earning potential of the children of 
        that individual when those children become adults, by 17 percent; and
Whereas student parents are uniquely motivated to excel in their courses of 
        study while often facing challenges, including lack of affordable child 
        care and balancing work responsibilities while attending postsecondary 
        educational institutions: 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 2022 as ``National Student Parent 
        Month''.
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