Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5528) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5528
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act''. SEC. 2. USING DATA FROM SECOND PRECEDING YEAR.
Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ``may'' in both places it appears and inserting ``shall''. SEC. 3. CALCULATION OF ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT PERCENTAGE FOR FEDERAL PELL GRANTS.
Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I)) is amended by striking ``calendar year'' and inserting ``fiscal year''. SEC. 4. FAFSA SIMPLIFICATION.
(a) FAFSA Simplification.--Section 483 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the following:
``(I) Format.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act, the Secretary shall make the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph available through a technology tool that can be used on mobile devices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, enable applicants to--
``(i) save data; and
``(ii) submit their FAFSA to the Secretary through such tool.
``(J) Consumer testing.--In developing and maintaining the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph and the technology tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing with appropriate persons to ensure the forms and technology tool are designed to be easily usable and understandable by students and families. Such consumer testing shall include--
``(i) current and prospective college students, family members of such students, and other individuals with expertise in student financial assistance application processes;
``(ii) dependent students and independent students meeting the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; and
``(iii) dependent students and independent students who do not meet the requirements under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479.''; and
(2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
``(f) Use of Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool to Populate FAFSA.--
``(1) Simplification efforts.--The Secretary shall--
``(A) make every effort to allow applicants to utilize the current data retrieval tool to transfer data available from the Internal Revenue Service to reduce the amount of original data entry by applicants and strengthen the reliability of data used to calculate expected family contributions, including through the use of technology to--
``(i) allow an applicant to automatically populate the electronic version of the forms under this paragraph with data available from the Internal Revenue Service; and
``(ii) direct an applicant to appropriate questions on such forms based on the applicant's answers to previous questions; and
``(B) allow single taxpayers, married taxpayers filing jointly, and married taxpayers filing separately to utilize the current data retrieval tool to its full capacity.
``(2) Use of tax return in application process.--The Secretary shall continue to examine whether data provided by the Internal Revenue Service can be used to generate an expected family contribution without additional action on the part of the student and taxpayer.
``(3) Reports on fafsa simplification efforts.--Not less than once every other year, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the progress of the simplification efforts under this subsection.
``(4) Reports on fafsa access.--Not less than once every 10 years, the Secretary shall report to the authorizing committees on the needs of limited English proficient students using the FAFSA.''.
(b) Funding.--
(1) Use of existing funds.--Of the amount authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Education to maintain the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, $3,000,000 shall be available to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
(2) No additional funds authorized.--No funds are authorized by this Act to be appropriated to carry out this Act or the amendments made by this Act.
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Mr. HECK of Nevada. 5528.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5528, the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act.
Early last year, I held a roundtable on higher education in my district to help better understand the issues facing students, teachers, and higher ed administrators in Nevada. Nearly everyone in attendance raised the issue of the overly complicated student aid process and, specifically, problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA.
Like many aspects of the student aid system, the application for aid can be confusing and too complex for many students and families to complete. The FAFSA includes 108 questions, requesting information on everything from the net worth of investments to complicated tax information. Many of these questions rely on data that students do not yet have or are so complicated they deter applicants from even completing the form.
It is critically important that students have the information they need to make timely, informed decisions about higher education; that includes information on what aid might be available to help them pursue a college degree and the responsibilities that come with accepting assistance.
If the current process deters them from even completing the application for aid, how can students possibly get the help they need? That is why, based on the recommendation of higher ed leaders in Nevada, I began working with some of my colleagues on the committee to reform the FAFSA and improve the student aid application process.
The Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act, which I am proud to sponsor with Representatives Roe of Tennessee, Polis, and Pocan, is the fruit of that labor and does exactly what the title suggests. It will streamline and improve the application process through a number of commonsense measures, all of which will help students and parents access the financial aid information they need in a timely manner to better understand their higher education payment options.
First, it will allow students to use income tax data from 2 years prior to the date of application. Traditionally, the FAFSA has relied on income tax data from the previous year, but that data is not readily available when students should begin filling out their applications. While the Department of Education currently has the authority to allow students to use prior-prior year data, the Department only recently began taking advantage of this authority, and only after the introduction of the original legislation on this issue.
This bill will ensure students are able to use prior-prior year data in the future, allowing them to complete the FAFSA earlier and receive information about their aid options sooner. It will also provide aid administrators more time to verify the income of applicants, both strengthening the integrity of the Federal Student Aid system and enabling administrators to provide students with accurate aid information as soon as possible.
Additionally, the legislation will require the Department of Education to allow more applicants to easily import their available income data through the IRS, helping them automatically populate answers to many FAFSA questions with information from their tax returns, making it easier on students and parents to accurately complete the form. The bill will also require that FAFSA be available on a mobile app and require the online and paper versions to be consumer tested. Both of these measures will make the application process easier and more user friendly and will work to ensure that data is protected.
By improving the application for student aid, we can help more students make smart decisions about college and realize that a college degree is within reach.
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
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Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker,
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Mr. HECK of Nevada. Mr. Speaker,
In closing, I thank, again, Representatives Roe of Tennessee, Polis, and Pocan for their leadership in bringing this commonsense bill to the floor today. I thank all of our colleagues on the Education and the Workforce Committee for their work to strengthen the country's higher education system.
Too many individuals already think the dream of a higher education could never become a reality for them. Too many others are discouraged by a system that is too confusing, too bureaucratic, and too outdated. The Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act and the other higher education bills on the floor today will deliver important reforms that Americans need. This bill will help students and parents better understand their postsecondary options and empower them to make timely financial decisions about their education.
I urge my colleagues to support this education.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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