119th Congress (2025-2026)

SRES 496

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

Passed Origin Chamber

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

Senate

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This resolution seeks to recognize and celebrate the contributions of first-generation college students. It proposes designating November 8, 2025, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day. The resolution highlights the importance of acknowledging the challenges faced by these students and celebrates the impact of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and related programs in supporting their educational journeys.

Key provisions

Designates November 8, 2025, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day.
Expresses support for recognizing the role of first-generation college students.
Urges the celebration of this day nationwide.
Acknowledges the impact of the Higher Education Act of 1965 on access to higher education.
Recognizes the importance of programs like Federal TRIO and the Pell Grant program.
Highlights the challenges faced by first-generation college students.
Notes that 54% of college students are first-generation.

Who is affected

First-generation college students
Institutions of higher education
Corporations
Nonprofit organizations
Elementary and secondary schools

Notable changes

The resolution establishes a specific day to honor first-generation college students.
It connects the celebration to the historical context of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

Reasons to oppose this legislation.

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Legislative history

2025-11-10Senate

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8183; text: CR S8135)

2025-11-10

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

2025-11-10

Introduced in Senate

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

11/10/2025SenateUnanimous consent
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8183; text: CR S8135)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
11/10/2025Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

11/10/2025SenateUnanimous consent
Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8183; text: CR S8135)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
11/10/2025Unanimous consent
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

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Nov 10, 2025XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 1st Session

S. RES. 496

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

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

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.

SRES 496

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Positions across the country

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Bill text

Positions across the country

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call