{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-marshall-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-celebrating-first-generation-college-students/", "Warnock, Marshall Introduce Bipartisan\u00a0Resolution Celebrating First-Generation College Students", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "GA", "Raphael G. Warnock", "W000790", "www.warnock.senate.gov", "warnock", "https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "November 8, 2025 is now designated as \u201cNational First-Generation College Celebration Day\u201d\n\nSenators Reverend Warnock and Marshall were both first-generation college students\n\nSenator Reverend Warnock: \u201cAs 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\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013\u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating November 8, 2025, as \u201cNational First-Generation College Celebration Day.\u201d November 8th is the anniversary of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 becoming law. The HEA made landmark investments in increasing college access for first-generation college students, notably by expanding federal financial aid.\n\n\u201cAs 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,\u201d said Senator Reverend Warnock. \u201cThat is why I am so proud to lead this bipartisan resolution that celebrates first-generation college graduates on November 8th.\u201d\n\n\u201cBeing a first-generation college student taught me that America offers incredible opportunities, but it takes grit and determination to seize them,\u201d said Senator Marshall. \u201cNational First-Generation College Celebration Day allows us to celebrate the first-generation students who are blazing new trails, embracing big dreams, and proving what\u2019s possible. Their journeys remind us why expanding access, support, and pathways to education remains so important. It\u2019s great to be partnering with Senator Warnock on this resolution.\u201d\n\nThe resolution recognizes the important role that first-generation college students play in helping develop the nation\u2019s future workforces. The resolution also celebrates the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the programs that have helped underrepresented students access higher education.\n\nSenator Warnock has long worked to increase access to higher education for all Americans and has continuously fought to make college more affordable. In June 2024, Senator Warnock introduced the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act, a bill that would nearly double the Pell Grant maximum award, and automatically adjust Pell Grants for inflation. Additionally, Senator Warnock has repeatedly advocated for federal action to address the student debt crisis impacting millions of Americans and has celebrated the roughly $175 billion in student debt relief for nearly 5 million borrowers.\n\nIn addition to Senators Warnock and Marshall, the resolution was co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-Maine).\n\nRead the full resolution HERE or below:\n\nRESOLUTION\n\nExpressing support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as \u2018\u2018National First-Generation College Celebration Day.\u201d\n\nWhereas a \u2018\u2018first-generation college student\u2019\u2019 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;\n\nWhereas 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;\n\nWhereas 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;\n\nWhereas 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\u201311 et seq.) and the Federal Pell Grant program under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.1070a);\n\nWhereas 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;\n\nWhereas 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;\n\nWhereas first-generation college students may face additional academic, financial, and social challenges that their peers do not face in pursuing higher education;\n\nWhereas 54 percent of all college students pursuing degrees at the time of the introduction of this resolution are first-generation college students;\n\nWhereas 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\n\nWhereas 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 \u2018\u2018First-Generation College Celebration Day\u2019\u2019: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved, That the Senate \u2014\n\nexpresses support for the designation of November 8, 2025, as \u2018\u2018National First-Generation College Celebration Day\u2019\u2019; and\n\nurges all people of the United States to \u2013\n\na. celebrate \u2018\u2018National First-Generation College Celebration Day\u2019\u2019 throughout the United States;\n\nb. recognize the important role that first-generation college students play in helping to develop the future workforce; and\n\nc. celebrate the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) and its programs that help underrepresented students access higher education.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.warnock.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warnock-marshall-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-celebrating-first-generation-college-students/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9276540949940681, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}