Senators Marshall & Warnock Introduce Resolution Celebrating First-Generation College Students
Washington – Last week, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), and Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating November 8, 2025, as “National First-Generation College Celebration Day.” November 8 is the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965. This legislation passed the Senate earlier this week.
“Being a first-generation college student taught me that America offers incredible opportunities, but it takes grit and determination to seize them,” said Senator Marshall. “National First-Generation College Celebration Day allows us to celebrate the first-generation students who are blazing new trails, embracing big dreams, and proving what’s possible. Their journeys remind us why expanding access, support, and pathways to education remains so important. It’s great to be partnering with Senator Warnock on this resolution.”
“As the first in my family to graduate from college, I understand the importance of a college degree for students, their family, and oftentimes, their entire community. It is a major accomplishment that deserves recognition,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “That is why I am so proud to lead this bipartisan resolution that celebrates first-generation college graduates on November 8th.”
The legislation is also co-sponsored by fellow Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ben Ray Lujan (D-New Mexico), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Richard Durbin (D-Illinois), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Click here to read the resolution, or see the full text below:
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 —
- expresses support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as ‘‘National First-Generation College Celebration Day’’; and
- 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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Contact: Payton Fuller
