A resolution expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as "Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week".

Bill: 119-sres-405
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2025-09-18
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-18
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S6737: 1)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 405 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025 Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Schatz , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Merkley , Ms. Klobuchar , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Warren , Mr. Booker , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Sanders , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Durbin , and Ms. Smith ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to September 28, 2025, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week .

Whereas the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program was originally authorized on September 27, 2007, by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act ( Public Law 110–84 ; 121 Stat. 784); Whereas 2025 marks the 18th anniversary of the establishment of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions by Congress; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are degree-granting postsecondary institutions that have an undergraduate enrollment of no less than 10 percent Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; Whereas the purpose of the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program is to improve the availability and quality of postsecondary education programs to serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; Whereas, since 2007, over 280 colleges and universities throughout the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific, have been eligible for funding as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions; Whereas, as of 2025, there are 208 funded and eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions operating in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas, as of the 2024–2025 academic year, 69 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are or have been funded in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions are of critical importance, as they enroll, support, and graduate large proportions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students, the majority of whom are from families with low incomes and are first-generation college students; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions comprise only 7.1 percent of all institutions of higher education, yet enroll 46 percent of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions employ many Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander faculty, staff, and administrators; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions award 51 percent of the associate’s degrees and 44 percent of the bachelor’s degrees attained by all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas more than one-third of funded Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions maintain an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander enrollment of over 20 percent; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions play a vital role in preserving the diverse culture, experiences, heritage, and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions create culturally relevant academic and co-curricular programs, research, and services which increase retention, transfer, and graduation rates, while also enhancing the overall educational experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions strengthens the culture of the United States; and Whereas the achievements and goals of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions in providing quality educational opportunities to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander and other students who attend these institutions; (2) encourages institutions of higher education that are eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to obtain funding and establish programs to serve the unique needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students, families, and communities; (3) recognizes the 18th anniversary of the establishment of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions Program and expresses support for the designation of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week ; and (4) calls on the people of the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific, and interested groups to observe Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week with appropriate activities, ceremonies, and programs to demonstrate support for Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions.