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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. Res. 496 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 496
Expressing support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as "National First-Generation College Celebration Day".
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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
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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.