; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions comprise only 6.5 percent of all institutions of higher education, yet enroll 46 percent of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions employ many of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander faculty, staff, and administrators in the United States; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions award more than 50 percent of the associate’s degrees and more than 40 percent of the bachelor’s degrees attained by all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander college students in the United States, including the United States territories in the Pacific; Whereas more than 1/2 of federally funded Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions maintain an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander enrollment of more than 20 percent; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions play a vital role in preserving the diverse culture, experiences, heritage, and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; Whereas Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions create culturally relevant academic and co-curricular programs, research, and services, which increase student retention, transfer, and graduation rates, while also enhancing the overall educational experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students; Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions strengthens the culture of the United States; and Whereas the achievements and goals of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, be it