H.Res. 1209

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1209 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1209

Recognizing the significance of ``Community College Month'' in April as 
a celebration of more than 1,000 institutions throughout the United 
States supporting access to higher education, workforce training, and 
more, broadly sustaining and advancing the Nation's economic 
prosperity.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 23, 2026

Mr. Courtney (for himself, Ms. King-Hinds, Ms. Norton, Mrs. McIver, Mr. 
Min, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Craig, Mr. Bell, Mr. Takano, Ms. 
Salinas, Ms. Dexter, Mr. Olszewski, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Riley of New 
York, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Panetta, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mrs. Grijalva, 
Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mr. Moulton, Mr. 
Landsman, Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Ms. Chu, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Thompson 
of Mississippi, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Neal, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Bynum, Mr. 
Bilirakis, and Mr. Carbajal) 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 as 
a celebration of more than 1,000 institutions throughout the United 
States supporting access to higher education, workforce training, and 
more, broadly sustaining and advancing the Nation's economic 
prosperity.

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;
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 the emerging sector of institutions;
Whereas local community and educational leaders throughout the Nation developed 
community colleges at a dramatic pace over several decades to meet their 
people's needs for educational and economic opportunity;
Whereas today 1,024 community colleges, including 924 public, 36 Tribal, and 64 
independent colleges, serve 10,500,000 credit and noncredit students;
Whereas recent enrollment data show that community colleges are leading 
postsecondary growth, with enrollment increasing by 4 percent, 
demonstrating continued progress in student access and participation;
Whereas public community colleges are an affordable option charging average 
annual tuition and fees for in-district students of $4,050, have an 
average student age of 27, and serve students who often are working, 
low-income, parents, veterans, or the first in their family to go to 
college;
Whereas community colleges are the primary educational institution 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 49 percent of all students who completed a bachelor's degree at a four-
year institution in the 2015-2016 academic year had been enrolled at a 
two-year public institution in the previous decade;
Whereas the median distance from a student's home to a community college was 
only 10 miles as of 2023;
Whereas 82 percent of public high schools offer dual enrollment programs, 
allowing their students to take college classes, usually at their local 
community college, offering opportunity to save time and money in 
college and jumpstart career exploration;
Whereas alumni of America's community colleges generated $898,500,000,000 in 
added income to the national economy in fiscal year 2020, or 4.1 percent 
of the total gross domestic product;
Whereas every dollar of public funding for community colleges returns $6.80 in 
tax revenue generated; and
Whereas celebrating ``Community College Month'' in April provides the people of 
the United States with an opportunity to recognize the value of 
institutions that have long supported American prosperity, 
competitiveness, and community vitality and that will be important to 
the Nation's economic future: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
significance of ``Community College Month'' as an opportunity to 
celebrate over 1,000 community colleges throughout the United States 
serving local and regional needs and strengthening the American 
economy.
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