[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 378 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 378
Expressing support for the recognition of the week of September 25
through October 1, 2023, as ``Asian American and Native American
Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 28 (legislative day, September 22), 2023
Ms. Hirono (for herself, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms.
Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fetterman, Mr. Kaine, Ms.
Klobuchar, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Rosen, Mr.
Schatz, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, and Mr.
Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the recognition of the week of September 25
through October 1, 2023, 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 established using funds authorized
by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84; 121
Stat. 784), which was enacted on September 27, 2007;
Whereas 2023 marks the 16th anniversary of the establishment of Federal funding
for 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 not 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, more than 260 colleges and universities throughout the
United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific,
have been eligible for Federal funding as Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions;
Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, there are 206 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 2022-2023 academic year, 58 Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions were receiving or had
received Federal funding 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 overwhelming majority of whom are first-generation
and from families with low income;
Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions
comprise only 6.5 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 of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
faculty, staff, and administrators in the United States;
Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions
award more than 50 percent of the associate's degrees and more than 40
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 \1/2\ of federally funded Asian American and Native American
Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions maintain an Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander enrollment of more than 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 student 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
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Asian American
and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions in
their work to provide quality educational opportunities to
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other
students who attend their institutions;
(2) encourages institutions of higher education that are
eligible to receive Federal funding as Asian American and
Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions to obtain
Federal funding and establish programs to serve the unique
needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
students, families, and communities;
(3) recognizes 2023 as the 16th anniversary of the
establishment of the Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-Serving Institutions Program;
(4) designates the week of September 25 through October 1,
2023, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions Week; and
(5) 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.
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