A resolution designating November 2019 as "National College Application Month".

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 432 Designating November 2019 as ‘‘National College Application Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES NOVEMBER 19, 2019 Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. CARPER, and Ms. ERNST) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating November 2019 as ‘‘National College Application Month’’. Whereas equality of opportunity for all people is one of the noblest aspirations of the United States; Whereas the National Center for Education Statistics reports that the employment rate for young adults with a bach- elor’s degree and the employment rate for young adults whose highest credential is a high school diploma differ by 14 percentage points; Whereas a 2015 study by Georgetown University identified that the average lifetime earnings gap between college graduates and individuals with only a high school di- ploma is $1,000,000; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR432.ATS SR432 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 432 ATS Whereas the Pew Economic Mobility Project finds that whether a child born in the lowest income quintile obtains a 4-year degree or higher credential is associated with— (1) an approximately 70 percent difference in the probability of that child earning an income outside the lowest income quintile; and (2) a threefold difference in the probability of that child going on to earn an income in the highest income quintile; Whereas the Education Commission of the States highlights that the number of nontraditional students at colleges and universities is expected to rise 65 percent faster than the number of traditional students during the 15-year pe- riod ending in 2024; Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approxi- mately 31 percent of high school graduates in 2018 did not matriculate to an institution of higher education the following fall semester, representing little change in the college enrollment of new high school graduates from the prior year; Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that the unemployment rate for recent high school graduates not enrolled in college in the fall semester of 2018 was 18.6 percent, significantly higher than the national unemploy- ment rate; Whereas many secondary students struggle to identify and assess postsecondary options due to a number of factors, including insufficient information on programmatic out- comes and difficulties in accessing effective or consistent counseling services and resources; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR432.ATS SR432 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 432 ATS Whereas the complexity of financial aid systems and proc- esses, rising college costs, and a shortage of effective fi- nancial education and literacy programs can serve as ad- ditional deterrents or barriers for students and families as they assess the viability of higher education programs as a postsecondary option; Whereas the United States built a thriving middle class in part by nurturing the potential for colleges and univer- sities to provide avenues to economic opportunity; Whereas the data on the benefits of higher education dem- onstrate that, in spite of ongoing barriers to access and student success, colleges and universities can still provide pathways to economic opportunity; and Whereas completion of the Free Application for Federal Stu- dent Aid is one of the best predictors of future college enrollment, as high school seniors who complete the form are 63 percent more likely to begin postsecondary edu- cation: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates November 2019 as ‘‘National 2 College Application Month’’; 3 (2) encourages the people of the United States 4 to— 5 (A) evaluate options for pursuing higher 6 education; 7 (B) submit a Free Application for Federal 8 Student Aid to understand college financing op- 9 portunities; and 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR432.ATS SR432 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 432 ATS (C) support every student, regardless of 1 the background or resources of the student, in 2 obtaining the skills and knowledge needed to 3 thrive; 4 (3) supports efforts to better assist low-income 5 and first generation students throughout the finan- 6 cial aid and college application process; 7 (4) urges public officials, educators, parents, 8 students, and communities in the United States to 9 observe National College Application Month with ap- 10 propriate activities and programs designed to en- 11 courage students to consider, research, and apply to 12 college and for financial aid; and 13 (5) commends teachers, counselors, mentors, 14 and parents who support students throughout the 15 college application process, as well as the organiza- 16 tions and institutions partnering to eliminate bar- 17 riers to higher education. 18 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:09 Nov 19, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR432.ATS SR432 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS