H.Res. 340

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 340 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
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 prosperity of the United States.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 21, 2025

Mr. Courtney (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Ciscomani, Mr. Quigley, 
Mr. Takano, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Bell, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Davis 
of Illinois, Ms. King-Hinds, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Randall, and Mrs. 
McBath) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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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;
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 dramatic pace over several decades to 
meet their people's needs for educational and economic opportunity;
Whereas today 1,026 community colleges, including 921 public, 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-district students of $3,990, 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 community colleges enrolled 43.1 percent of all undergraduate students 
during the 2022-2023 academic year;
Whereas the median distance from the home of a student attending community 
college to the community college is only 10 miles;
Whereas 82 percent of public high schools offer dual enrollment programs, 
allowing their students to take college classes, usually at their local 
community college, and offering 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 colleges 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 recognizes the 
significance of ``Community College Month'' as an opportunity to 
celebrate the over 1,000 community colleges throughout the United 
States that serve local and regional needs and strengthen the economy 
of the United States.
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