III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 903 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 21 (legislative day, November 20), 2024 Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Marshall , Ms. Collins , Mr. Durbin , and Mr. Booker ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2024, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day .

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 1 parent, an individual whose parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree; 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 was focused on increasing postsecondary education access and success for students, particularly low-income and first-generation college students; Whereas the Higher Education Act of 1965 helped usher in programs necessary for low-income, first-generation college students to access, remain in, and complete postsecondary education, 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 are the primary national effort supporting underrepresented students in postsecondary education and are designed to identify individuals from low-income backgrounds that would be first-generation college students and prepare them for postsecondary education, provide them support services, and 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 students may face additional academic, financial, and social challenges that their peers do not face in pursuing higher education; Whereas 54 percent of all current college students currently pursuing degrees are first-generation college students; 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, nonprofit organizations, and elementary and secondary schools now celebrate November 8 as First-Generation College Celebration Day : Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) expresses support for the designation of November 8, 2024, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day ; and (2) urges all people of the United States to— (A) celebrate National First-Generation College Celebration Day throughout the United States; (B) recognize the important role that first-generation college students play in helping to develop the future workforce; and (C) celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. ) and its programs that help underrepresented students access higher education.