A resolution expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as "National First-Generation College Celebration Day".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 496 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 496

    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as 
         ``National First-Generation College Celebration Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 10, 2025

Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mr. Warnock, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Lujan, Mrs. 
 Hyde-Smith, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. 
 Collins) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2025, 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 college students pursuing degrees at the time of the 
        introduction of this resolution are first-generation college students;
Whereas the Council for Opportunity in Education and FirstGen Forward, formerly 
        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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) expresses support for the designation of November 8, 
        2025, 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.
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