[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 405 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 405
Expressing support for the recognition of September 22, 2025, to
September 28, 2025, as ``Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-Serving Institutions Week''.
_______________________________________________________________________
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
Resolved, 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.
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