IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1601 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 26, 2024 Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Davis of Illinois , Ms. Bonamici , and Ms. Williams of Georgia ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2024, 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 face additional academic, financial, and social barriers compared to what their continuing-generation peers face while pursuing higher education; Whereas 54 percent of all current undergraduate students in the United States identify as first-generation; Whereas 45 percent of students currently pursuing bachelor’s degrees are first-generation; Whereas two-thirds of all current community and technical college students identify as first-generation, with 14.2 percent having attained an associate’s degree and 10.1 percent having attained an undergraduate certificate; Whereas first-generation students navigate multiple competing priorities, and 73 percent were employed while in college, in paid jobs, internships, or work study; Whereas first-generation students hold significant roles within their household, with 27 percent having dependents to care for while in school; Whereas 37 percent of first-generation graduates expect to attain a master’s degree, and 16 percent expect to attain a doctoral degree upon completing a bachelor’s degree; 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 historically excluded students access higher education.