119-sres405

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 405 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

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.
 <all>