IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 785 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 9, 2021 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Tonko , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Bishop of Georgia , Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois , Mr. Sires , Mr. García of Illinois , Ms. Sewell , Mr. Correa , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Upton , Mr. Kind , Mr. Gohmert , Mr. Morelle , Mr. Raskin , Mr. Fitzpatrick , Mr. Grijalva , Miss González-Colón , Ms. Jackson Lee , Ms. Garcia of Texas , Mr. Auchincloss , Mrs. Axne , Mr. Takano , Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Ms. Scanlon , Mr. Swalwell , Ms. Craig , Ms. Barragán , Ms. Davids of Kansas , Ms. Meng , Ms. Brownley , Mrs. Trahan , Ms. Norton , Mrs. Rodgers of Washington , Mr. McKinley , Mr. McHenry , Mr. Carbajal , Mr. Horsford , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Butterfield , Mr. Lowenthal , Ms. Roybal-Allard , Ms. Kaptur , Mr. Valadao , Ms. McCollum , Mr. Pallone , Mr. Kilmer , Mr. Bucshon , Mr. Cárdenas , Ms. Bourdeaux , Mr. Lamborn , Mr. Katko , Mr. Panetta , Mr. Owens , Mrs. Torres of California , Mr. Davidson , Mr. Gallego , and Ms. Williams of Georgia ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2021, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day .

Whereas November 8 honors 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 including low-income and first-generation students; Whereas the Act helped usher in programs necessary for postsecondary access, retention, and completion for low-income, 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 the primary national effort supporting underrepresented students in postsecondary education and are designed to identify individuals from low-income, first-generation backgrounds and prepare them for postsecondary education, provide support services, and motivate and prepare students 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 a first-generation college student means an individual whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree, or in the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one 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 their peers do not face in pursuing higher education; Whereas 56 percent of all current college students currently pursuing degrees are first-generation; Whereas the Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-generation Student Success jointly launched the inaugural First-Generation College Celebration in 2017; and Whereas the First-Generation College Celebration has continued to grow, and institutions of higher education, corporations, nonprofits, and elementary schools and secondary schools now celebrate November 8 as First-Generation College Celebration Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives urges all people in the United States to— (1) celebrate National First-Generation College Celebration Day throughout the United States; (2) recognize the important role that first-generation college students play in helping to develop the future workforce; and (3) celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. ) and its programs that help underrepresented students access higher education.