IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 340
Recognizing the significance of ‘‘Community College Month’’ in April 2025
as a celebration of the more than 1,000 community colleges throughout
the United States that support access to higher education, workforce
training, and more, and broadly sustain and advance the economic pros-
perity of the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL21, 2025
Mr. C
OURTNEY(for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. CISCOMANI, Mr. QUIGLEY,
Mr. T
AKANO, Mr. JOHNSONof Georgia, Mr. BELL, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr.
D
AVISof Illinois, Ms. KING-HINDS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. RANDALL, and
Mrs. M
CBATH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the significance of ‘‘Community College Month’’
in April 2025 as a celebration of the more than 1,000
community colleges throughout the United States that
support access to higher education, workforce training,
and more, and broadly sustain and advance the economic
prosperity of the United States.
Whereas the first public community college, known today as
Joliet Junior College in Illinois, opened its doors to 6
students in 1901 as an experiment to accommodate those
who wanted to pursue a college education without leaving
their community;
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Whereas the term ‘‘community college’’ was popularized by
the President’s Commission on Higher Education in
1947 in recognition of the community-centered nature of
this emerging sector of institutions;
Whereas local community and educational leaders throughout
the United States developed community colleges at a dra-
matic pace over several decades to meet their people’s
needs for educational and economic opportunity;
Whereas today 1,026 community colleges, including 921 pub-
lic, 36 Tribal, and 69 independent colleges, serve
10,200,000 credit and noncredit students;
Whereas public community colleges are an affordable option,
charging an average annual tuition and fees for in-dis-
trict students of $3,990, have an average student age of
27, and serve students who often are working, low-in-
come, parents, veterans, or the first in their family to go
to college;
Whereas community colleges are the primary educational in-
stitution serving workforce development needs in the
United States and are responding to current economic
conditions by educating professionals in fields ranging
from the semiconductor and construction industries to
nursing and other health care professions;
Whereas community colleges enrolled 43.1 percent of all un-
dergraduate students during the 2022–2023 academic
year;
Whereas the median distance from the home of a student at-
tending community college to the community college is
only 10 miles;
Whereas 82 percent of public high schools offer dual enroll-
ment programs, allowing their students to take college
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•HRES 340 IH
classes, usually at their local community college, and of-
fering them an opportunity to save time and money in
college and jumpstart career exploration;
Whereas alumni of the community colleges of the United
States generated $898,500,000,000 in added income to
the national economy in fiscal year 2020, equal to 4.1
percent of the total gross domestic product of the United
States;
Whereas every dollar of public funding for community col-
leges returns $6.80 in tax revenue generated; and
Whereas celebrating ‘‘Community College Month’’ in April
2025 provides the people of the United States with an
opportunity to recognize the value of institutions that
have long supported the prosperity, competitiveness, and
community vitality of the United States and that will be
important to the economic future of the United States:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-1
nizes the significance of ‘‘Community College Month’’ as 2
an opportunity to celebrate the over 1,000 community col-3
leges throughout the United States that serve local and 4
regional needs and strengthen the economy of the United 5
States. 6
Æ
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