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U.S. Senators Roger Marshall of Kansas and Raphael Warnock of Georgia recently introduced a bipartisan resolution to designate November 8, 2025, as National First-Generation College Celebration Day. The date marks the anniversary of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a landmark law that expanded access to college for low-income and first-generation students. The resolution passed the Senate earlier this week.

The legislation highlights the challenges first-generation college students often face, including academic, financial, and social barriers, while acknowledging that they make up more than half of all college students. It also emphasizes the role of federal programs such as TRIO and Pell Grants in helping these students access and complete higher education.

The resolution encourages people across the country to recognize and celebrate first-generation students for their contributions to the workforce and their communities. It is co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn, Ben Ray Lujan, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Richard Durbin, John Barrasso, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Susan Collins.