Senate Passes Markey, Collins Resolution Designating April “Community College Month”

Resolution Text (PDF)

Washington (May 13, 2025) - Last week, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution led by Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, designating April as "Community College Month." The resolution recognizes the importance of community colleges as sources of education, opportunity, and economic mobility. More than 1,000 public, tribal, and independent community colleges serve almost half of all undergraduate students in the United States. Representatives Joe Courtney (CT-02) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.

"Massachusetts community colleges are of and for the community - delivering affordable, high-quality education to students where they live and work. When we invest in them, we are investing in people, families, neighborhoods, and their futures," said Senator Markey. "I am proud to reintroduce my resolution designating April as Community College Month in recognition of their essential contributions to our students, to building our workforce, and to driving economic opportunity and mobility."

"Maine's community colleges play an important role in shaping our future workforce and providing students with the skills they need to prepare for rewarding careers in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, cybersecurity, and health care," said Senator Collins. "This bipartisan resolution celebrates the hard work of faculty at the more than 1,000 community colleges throughout our country and reaffirms our commitment to increasing access to higher education and workforce training."

"For decades, community colleges have opened the door to quality, higher education for students, regardless of their family's income," said Congressman Courtney. "Community colleges are particularly critical to students and employers in eastern Connecticut where our economy is growing faster than any other region in the state. With so many new, good-paying jobs available, community colleges are well-situated to prepare workers with the skills they need to succeed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to protect resources for community colleges and ensure they can continue delivering on their mission."

"Community Colleges empower students of all ages with the tools, industry certifications and hands-on skills they need to be successful in high wage jobs that are in demand throughout the country. The skilled workforce they help create serves as a catalyst for fueling our nation's economic engine," said Congressman Gus Bilirakis who serves as Co-Chairman of the Community College Congressional Caucus. "This Community College Month, we celebrate the success of these fine educational institutions and the positive impact they have on the lives of millions of Americans."

"The Commonwealth's 15 community colleges are grateful to Congress for recognizing April as Community College Month," said Nate Mackinnon, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges. "Our community colleges offer an open access education to all, regardless of their goals. We are proud to be part of our local communities and partners in educating employees in high-demand industries across Massachusetts."

Community colleges play a crucial role in workforce development across the United States, providing an affordable pathway to further education for all students, including nontraditional, low-income, working, parenting, veteran, and first-generation students. For more than a century, community colleges have contributed to prosperity and economic mobility, and they are vitally important to the economic future of the United States.

The Senate resolution is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).

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