[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4416 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4416

   To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove barriers for 
 students seeking Federal financial aid by reducing the complexity and 
  length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and 
  increasing support for working students and vulnerable populations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 16, 2017

Ms. Blunt Rochester (for herself, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mrs. Davis of 
   California, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Bera, and Mr. Doggett) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and 
                             the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove barriers for 
 students seeking Federal financial aid by reducing the complexity and 
  length of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and 
  increasing support for working students and vulnerable populations.

    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 ``Simple FAFSA Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RULES.

    (a) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 
in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
    (b) Orderly Transition.--The Secretary shall take such steps as are 
necessary to provide for the orderly transition to, and implementation 
of, the amendments made by this Act. The authority provided in the 
preceding sentence shall cease on the day that is one year after the 
effective date of this Act.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Effective Date.--This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, 
shall take effect with respect to the first award year beginning after 
the first October after the date of enactment of this Act and each 
succeeding award year.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Special rules.
Sec. 3. Effective date; table of contents.
                 TITLE I--EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

Sec. 101. Expected family contribution.
Sec. 102. Increasing support for working students by 35 percent.
Sec. 103. Zero expected family contribution.
Sec. 104. Using data from the second preceding year.
Sec. 105. Changes to untaxed income and benefits.
                    TITLE II--SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA

Sec. 201. FAFSA pathways.
Sec. 202. One-time FAFSA filing for dependent students.
Sec. 203. FAFSA in various languages.
Sec. 204. Use of Internal Revenue Service data retrieval tool to 
                            populate FAFSA.
Sec. 205. Information on FAFSA verification.
Sec. 206. Conforming amendments to section 483.
                   TITLE III--FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY

Sec. 301. Exception to required registration with selective service 
                            system.
Sec. 302. Repeal of suspension of eligibility under the Higher 
                            Education Act of 1965 for grants, loans, 
                            and work assistance for drug-related 
                            offenses.
Sec. 303. Federal aid eligibility for DREAMer students.
                 TITLE IV--FINANCIAL AID SHOPPING SHEET

Sec. 401. Financial aid shopping sheet.

                 TITLE I--EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION

SEC. 101. EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    (a) Special Rule.--Section 473(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087mm) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``academic year'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``academic year 2009-2010 
        and succeeding academic years'' and inserting ``award year 
        2018-2019 and succeeding award years''.
    (b) Data Elements.--Section 474(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087nn(b)) is amended 
in paragraph (4), by inserting before ``the net'' the following: ``only 
in the case of a pathway three applicant,''.
    (c) Dependent Students.--Section 475 (20 U.S.C. 1087oo) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by inserting before ``the 
        student'' the following: ``only in the case of a pathway three 
        applicant,'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1)(B), by inserting before ``the 
        parents''' the following: ``only in the case of a pathway three 
        applicant,''; and
            (3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''.
    (d) Independent Students Without Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 476(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087pp(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
inserting before ``the family's contribution'' the following: ``only in 
the case of a pathway three applicant,''.
    (e) Independent Students With Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 477(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087qq(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
inserting before ``the family's contribution'' the following: ``only in 
the case of a pathway three applicant,''.

SEC. 102. INCREASING SUPPORT FOR WORKING STUDENTS BY 35 PERCENT.

    (a) Dependent Students.--Section 475(g)(2)(D) (20 U.S.C. 
1087oo(g)(2)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(D) an income protection allowance (or a 
                successor amount prescribed by the Secretary under 
                section 478) of $9,010 for award year 2018-2019;''.
    (b) Independent Students Without Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 476 (20 U.S.C. 1087pp) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b)(1)(A)(iv) to read as 
        follows:
                            ``(iv) an income protection allowance (or a 
                        successor amount prescribed by the Secretary 
                        under section 478)--
                                    ``(I) for single or separated 
                                students, or married students where 
                                both are enrolled pursuant to 
                                subsection (a)(2), of $14,010 for award 
                                year 2018-2019; and
                                    ``(II) for married students where 1 
                                is enrolled pursuant to subsection 
                                (a)(2), of $22,460 for award year 2018-
                                2019;''.
    (c) Independent Students With Dependents Other Than a Spouse.--
Section 477 (20 U.S.C. 1087qq) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``award period'' and 
        inserting ``award year''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b)(4) to read as follows:
            ``(4) Income protection allowance.--The income protection 
        allowance is determined by the following table (or a successor 
        table prescribed by the Secretary under section 478), for award 
        year 2018-2019:

                                          ``Income Protection Allowance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Family  Size                                          Number in College
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     For each
   (including           1               2               3               4               5           additional
    student)                                                                                        subtract:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      2              $35,470         $29,410                                                           $6,030
      3               44,170          38,130         $32,070
      4               54,540          45,490          42,450         $36,370
      5               64,360          58,280          52,240          46,190         $40,160
      6               75,260          69,210          63,190          57,090          51,070
For each
additional
   add:                8,500                                                                              ''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Updated Tables and Amounts.--Section 478 (20 U.S.C. 1087rr) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraphs (A) 
                and (B) and inserting the following:
                    ``(A) In general.--For each award year after award 
                year 2018-2019, the Secretary shall publish in the 
                Federal Register a revised table of income protection 
                allowances for the purpose of sections 475(c)(4) and 
                477(b)(4), subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C).
                    ``(B) Table for independent students.--For each 
                award year after award year 2018-2019, the Secretary 
                shall develop the revised table of income protection 
                allowances by increasing each of the dollar amounts 
                contained in the table of income protection allowances 
                under section 477(b)(4) by a percentage equal to the 
                estimated percentage increase in the Consumer Price 
                Index (as determined by the Secretary for the most 
                recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of 
                the award year for which the determination is being 
                made), and rounding the result to the nearest $10.''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the first sentence, by striking 
                        ``academic year after academic year 2007-2008'' 
                        and inserting ``award year after award year 
                        2018-2019''; and
                            (ii) in the second sentence, by striking 
                        ``shall be developed'' and all that follows 
                        through the period at the end and inserting 
                        ``shall be developed for each award year after 
                        award year 2018-2019, by increasing each of the 
                        dollar amounts contained in such section for 
                        award year 2018-2019 by a percentage equal to 
                        the estimated percentage increase in the 
                        Consumer Price Index (as determined by the 
                        Secretary for the most recent calendar year 
                        ending prior to the beginning of the award year 
                        for which the determination is being made), and 
                        rounding the result to the nearest $10.''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``academic year'' and 
        inserting ``award year''.

SEC. 103. ZERO EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    Section 479 (20 U.S.C. 1087ss) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 479. ZERO EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall consider an applicant to 
have an expected family contribution equal to zero if--
            ``(1) in the case of a dependent student--
                    ``(A)(i) the student's parents file, or are 
                eligible to file, a qualifying form or certify that the 
                parents are not required to file a Federal income tax 
                return; and
                    ``(ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the 
                parents is less than or equal to $34,000; or
                    ``(B) the student's parents, or the student, 
                received benefits at some time during the previous 24-
                month period under a means-tested Federal benefit 
                program;
            ``(2) in the case of an independent student without regard 
        to whether the student has dependents other than a spouse--
                    ``(A)(i) the student (and the student's spouse, if 
                any) files, or is eligible to file, a qualifying form 
                or certifies that the student (and the student's 
                spouse, if any) is not required to file a Federal 
                income tax return; and
                    ``(ii) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the 
                student and spouse (if appropriate) is less than or 
                equal to $34,000; or
                    ``(B) the student received benefits at some time 
                during the previous 24-month period under a means-
                tested Federal benefit program; or
            ``(3) the applicant is a pathway one applicant under 
        section 483(a)(13).
    ``(b) Earned Income Credit.--An individual is not required to 
qualify or file for the earned income credit in order to be eligible 
under this section.
    ``(c) Adjustments.--The Secretary shall annually adjust the income 
level necessary to qualify an applicant for the zero expected family 
contribution. The income level shall be annually increased by the 
estimated percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, as defined in 
section 478(f), for the most recent calendar year ending prior to the 
beginning of an award year, and rounded to the nearest $1,000.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Qualifying form.--The term `qualifying form' means, 
        in the case of an independent student, the student, or in the 
        case of a dependent student, the family, files--
                    ``(A) a form 1040A or 1040EZ (including any 
                prepared or electronic version of such form) required 
                pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
                    ``(B) a form 1040 (including any prepared or 
                electronic version of such form) required pursuant to 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, except that such 
                form shall be considered a qualifying form only if the 
                student or family files such form in order to take a 
                tax credit under section 25A of the Internal Revenue 
                Code of 1986, and would otherwise be eligible to file a 
                form described in subparagraph (A); or
                    ``(C) an income tax return (including any prepared 
                or electronic version of such return) required pursuant 
                to the tax code of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
                Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic 
                of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of 
                Micronesia, or Palau.
            ``(2) Means-tested federal benefit program.--For purposes 
        of this paragraph, a `means-tested Federal benefit program' 
        means a mandatory spending program of the Federal Government, 
        other than a program under this title, in which eligibility for 
        the program's benefits, or the amount of such benefits, are 
        determined on the basis of income or resources of the 
        individual or family seeking the benefit, and may include such 
        programs as--
                    ``(A) the supplemental security income program 
                under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
                1381 et seq.);
                    ``(B) the supplemental nutrition assistance program 
                under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 
                et seq.);
                    ``(C) the program of block grants for States for 
                temporary assistance for needy families established 
                under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
                    ``(D) the special supplemental nutrition program 
                for women, infants, and children established by section 
                17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786);
                    ``(E) the State Medicaid program under title XIX of 
                the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and
                    ``(F) other programs identified by the 
                Secretary.''.

SEC. 104. USING DATA FROM THE SECOND PRECEDING YEAR.

    Section 480(a)(1)(B) (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B)) is amended by 
striking ``may'' in both places it appears and inserting ``shall''.

SEC. 105. CHANGES TO UNTAXED INCOME AND BENEFITS.

    Section 480(b) (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(b) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), to read as follows:
            ``(1) The term `untaxed income and benefits' means--
                    ``(A) child support received;
                    ``(B) untaxed portion of pensions; and
                    ``(C) payments to individual retirement accounts 
                and Keogh accounts excluded from income for Federal 
                income tax purposes.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking ``or'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (E);
                    (B) by striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (F) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) workman's compensation;
                    ``(H) veteran's benefits such as death pension, 
                dependency, and indemnity compensation, but excluding 
                veterans' education benefits as defined in subsection 
                (c);
                    ``(I) interest on tax-free bonds;
                    ``(J) housing, food, and other allowances 
                (excluding rent subsidies for low-income housing) for 
                military, clergy, and others (including cash payments 
                and cash value of benefits), except that the value of 
                on-base military housing or the value of basic 
                allowance for housing determined under section 403(b) 
                of title 37, United States Code, received by the 
                parents, in the case of a dependent student, or the 
                student or student's spouse, in the case of an 
                independent student, shall be excluded;
                    ``(K) cash support or any money paid on the 
                student's behalf, except, for dependent students, funds 
                provided by the student's parents; and
                    ``(L) any other untaxed income and benefits, such 
                as Black Lung Benefits, Refugee Assistance, or railroad 
                retirement benefits, or benefits received through 
                participation in employment and training activities 
                under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
                (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).''.

                    TITLE II--SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA

SEC. 201. FAFSA PATHWAYS.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(13) FAFSA pathways.--
                    ``(A) Memorandum of understanding.--Not later than 
                the effective date of the Simple FAFSA Act of 2017, the 
                Secretary shall seek to enter into a Memorandum of 
                Understanding with the Secretary of Health and Human 
                Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the 
                Secretary of the Treasury, under which any information 
                exchanged under an income and eligibility verification 
                system established pursuant to section 1137 of the 
                Social Security Act by State agencies administering a 
                program listed in paragraph (1), (4), or (5) of 
                subsection (b) of such section which may be of use in 
                establishing or verifying eligibility or benefit 
                amounts under such program shall be made available to 
                the Secretary of Education to assist in determining 
                whether the applicant (or the applicant's parents) 
                received a benefit under a means-tested Federal benefit 
                program at some time during the previous 24-month 
                period under a means-tested Federal benefit program, 
                but subject to the requirements of Federal law.
                    ``(B) Requirement for all applicants and the 
                secretary.--For any award year for which an applicant 
                applies for financial assistance under this title 
                (except for any award year for which, pursuant to 
                paragraph (14), the applicant is not required to submit 
                a FAFSA)--
                            ``(i) the applicant shall provide on the 
                        form described in this subsection whether the 
                        applicant received, or in the case of a 
                        dependent applicant, whether the parents of the 
                        applicant received, a benefit under a means-
                        tested Federal benefit program at some time 
                        during the previous 24-month period under a 
                        means-tested Federal benefit program; and
                            ``(ii) the Secretary, to the extent 
                        practicable and pursuant to the Memorandum of 
                        Understanding entered into under subparagraph 
                        (A), and without any further action by the 
                        applicant, shall verify the applicant's (or the 
                        applicant's parents) receipt of such benefit.
                    ``(C) Pathway one applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who received, or in the case of a 
                        dependent applicant, whose parents received, 
                        benefits at some time during the previous 24-
                        month period under a means-tested Federal 
                        benefit program, the applicant shall not be 
                        required to provide any further income or asset 
                        information on the form under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        one applicant'.
                    ``(D) Pathway two applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who is not a pathway one applicant 
                        and who is not required to file or, in the case 
                        of a dependent applicant, no parent of the 
                        applicant is required to file, any schedule 
                        (other than a schedule R, schedule 8812, or 
                        schedule EIC) with a Federal income tax return, 
                        the Secretary, to the extent practicable, shall 
                        use the data retrieval tool under section 
                        484(q) to obtain any information for the 
                        applicant beyond the information described in 
                        subparagraph (A) for purposes of the form under 
                        this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        two applicant'.
                    ``(E) Pathway three applicants.--
                            ``(i) In general.--With respect to an 
                        applicant who is not a pathway one applicant or 
                        a pathway two applicant, the Secretary, to the 
                        extent practicable, shall use the data 
                        retrieval tool under section 484(q) to obtain 
                        any information for the applicant beyond the 
                        information described in subparagraph (A) for 
                        purposes of the form under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Designation.--For purposes of this 
                        section and part F, an applicant described in 
                        clause (i) shall be referred to as a `pathway 
                        three applicant'.
                    ``(F) Means-tested federal benefit program 
                defined.--For purposes of this paragraph, the term 
                `means-tested Federal benefit program' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 479(d)(2).''.

SEC. 202. ONE-TIME FAFSA FILING FOR DEPENDENT STUDENTS.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(14) One-time fafsa filing for dependent students.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of this section and subject to subparagraphs 
                (B) and (C), an applicant who submits a FAFSA for the 
                first time during the period required for the 
                completion of the first undergraduate baccalaureate 
                course of study being pursued by such applicant and is 
                determined to be a dependent student who is eligible to 
                receive a Federal Pell Grant for the award year for 
                which the applicant submitted such FAFSA, for any 
                succeeding award year--
                            ``(i) for which the applicant does not 
                        submit a FAFSA and for which the applicant 
                        submits a certification form described in 
                        subparagraph (D) based upon which the Secretary 
                        confirms that the applicant is a dependent 
                        student for such year, such applicant--
                                    ``(I) shall not be required to 
                                submit a FAFSA to receive financial 
                                assistance under this title; and
                                    ``(II) shall have an expected 
                                family contribution for such year that 
                                is equal to the expected family 
                                contribution of the applicant 
                                determined for the award year for which 
                                the applicant submitted a FAFSA during 
                                such period, except that an adjustment 
                                to such expected family contribution 
                                may be made under section 479A;
                            ``(ii) for which the applicant submits a 
                        FAFSA, such applicant--
                                    ``(I) shall have an expected family 
                                contribution for such year that is 
                                determined based on such FAFSA; and
                                    ``(II) shall be required to submit 
                                a FAFSA for any other award year for 
                                which the applicant seeks financial 
                                assistance under this title; and
                            ``(iii) for which the applicant is 
                        determined to be an independent student or does 
                        not submit a certification form described in 
                        subparagraph (D), such applicant shall submit a 
                        FAFSA for such succeeding award year and any 
                        other award year for which the applicant seeks 
                        financial assistance under this title.
                    ``(B) Adjustment of expected family contribution.--
                With respect to an applicant described in subparagraph 
                (A)(i) who receives an adjustment under section 479A to 
                the expected family contribution of the applicant for 
                an award year, for any succeeding award year after the 
                award year for which the adjustment was made, subclause 
                (II) of such subparagraph shall be applied to such 
                applicant by substituting `expected family contribution 
                of the applicant as most recently adjusted under 
                section 479A for such applicant' for the `expected 
                family contribution of the applicant determined for the 
                award year for which the applicant submitted a FAFSA 
                during such period'.
                    ``(C) Rule for certain students.--With respect to 
                an applicant who submits a FAFSA for award year 2018-
                2019 and enrolls in an institution of higher education 
                for such year, subparagraph (A) shall be applied--
                            ``(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), 
                        by substituting `award year 2018-2019' for `the 
                        first time'; and
                            ``(ii) in clause (i)(II), by substituting 
                        `award year 2018-2019' for `the award year for 
                        which the applicant submitted a FAFSA during 
                        such period'.
                    ``(D) Dependent student certification form.--The 
                Secretary, in cooperation with representatives of 
                agencies and organizations involved in student 
                financial assistance, shall use behavioral science 
                insights to produce, distribute, and process free of 
                charge a short and simple consumer-tested dependent 
                student certification form that uses skip logic to 
                bypass fields that are inapplicable to an applicant. 
                Such form shall not require an applicant to provide 
                data that the Secretary may otherwise obtain with 
                respect to the applicant (such as age or active duty 
                military status), and may only contain the data 
                elements required for purposes of subparagraph (A)(i)--
                            ``(i) to confirm that the applicant is a 
                        dependent student;
                            ``(ii) to allow the applicant to update the 
                        contact information of such applicant or the 
                        Federal School Code of the institution of 
                        higher education in which the applicant is, or 
                        will be enrolled, for the award year for which 
                        the applicant submits such form; and
                            ``(iii) to ask whether the applicant's need 
                        and eligibility for financial assistance under 
                        this title has not changed substantially since 
                        the most recent of the following:
                                    ``(I) The applicant submitted a 
                                FAFSA.
                                    ``(II) The applicant received an 
                                adjustment under section 479A to the 
                                expected family contribution of the 
                                applicant.
                    ``(E) Succeeding award year defined.--In this 
                paragraph, the term `succeeding award year'--
                            ``(i) when used with respect to an 
                        applicant who submits a FAFSA for the first 
                        time for an award year during the period 
                        required for the completion of the first 
                        undergraduate baccalaureate course of study 
                        being pursued by such applicant, means any 
                        award year during such period that follows the 
                        award year for which the applicant submits such 
                        FAFSA; and
                            ``(ii) when used with respect to an 
                        applicant described in subparagraph (C), means 
                        any award year after award year 2018-2019 
                        during the period required for the completion 
                        of the first undergraduate baccalaureate course 
                        of study being pursued by such applicant.''.

SEC. 203. FAFSA IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

    Section 483(a) (20 U.S.C. 1090(a)) is further amended by adding at 
the end the following:
            ``(15) FAFSA in various languages.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) translate the form developed under this 
                subsection into not fewer than 11 foreign languages 
                based on the languages most often spoken by English 
                learner students and their parents, and make the 
                translated form available to applicants in paper and 
                electronic formats; and
                    ``(B) ensure that the form developed under this 
                subsection is available in formats accessible to 
                individuals with disabilities.''.

SEC. 204. USE OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DATA RETRIEVAL TOOL TO 
              POPULATE FAFSA.

    Section 483(f) (20 U.S.C. 1090(f)) is amended 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 and the Committees on Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives and the Senate on the progress of 
        the simplification efforts under this subsection.''.

SEC. 205. INFORMATION ON FAFSA VERIFICATION.

    Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
    ``(i) FAFSA Verification.--
            ``(1) In general.--With respect to applicants who submit a 
        FAFSA for an award year and were eligible to receive a Federal 
        Pell Grant for such award year, the Secretary shall submit to 
        the authorizing committees, and make publicly available, a 
        report for such award year on--
                    ``(A) the percentage of such applicants who 
                received a Federal Pell Grant for such award year;
                    ``(B) the percentage of such applicants who did not 
                receive a Federal Pell Grant for such year;
                    ``(C) the percentage of such applicants who were 
                selected by the Secretary for verification of the data 
                provided in the FAFSA;
                    ``(D) the percentage of applicants described in 
                paragraph (1)(C) who received a Federal Pell Grant for 
                such award year; and
                    ``(E) the percentage of applicants described in 
                paragraph (1)(C) who did not receive a Federal Pell 
                Grant for such award year.
            ``(2) Disaggregation.--The data provided in a report under 
        paragraph (1) shall be disaggregated--
                    ``(A) by applicants who were pathway 1 applicants 
                for such year;
                    ``(B) by applicants who were pathway 2 applicants 
                for such year;
                    ``(C) by applicants who were pathway 3 applicants 
                for such year; and
                    ``(D) to the extent practicable, by applicants who 
                enrolled in an institution of higher education for such 
                award year.''.

SEC. 206. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 483.

    Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090), as amended by sections 201 through 
205, is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``process'' and all that follows through the 
                        end of clause (ii) and inserting ``process a 
                        paper version of the forms described in this 
                        subsection, in accordance with subparagraph 
                        (C).''; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B);
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking the 
                        end sentence; and
                            (ii) by striking subparagraph (B), and 
                        redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as 
                        subparagraphs (B) through (G), respectively;
                    (C) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) by striking ``academic year'' each 
                        place it appears and inserting ``award year''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        clause (iv); and
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``paragraphs (2)(B)(iii), (3)(B), and 
                        (4)(A)(ii)'' and inserting ``paragraph 
                        (4)(A)(ii)'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``determine'' and 
                                all that follows through ``which'' and 
                                inserting ``determine which''; and
                                    (II) by striking clause (ii);
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``the Secretary'' and all that follows through 
                        ``of the'' and inserting ``the Secretary of 
                        the''; and
                            (iv) by striking subparagraphs (D) through 
                        (F), and redesignating subparagraph (G) as 
                        subparagraph (D);
            (2) in subsection (c), by striking the last sentence;
            (3) in subsection (d)(3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and EZ 
                FAFSA''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and EZ 
                FAFSA'';
            (4) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or, as 
                appropriate, an EZ FAFSA''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ``or, as 
                appropriate, an EZ FAFSA,''; and
            (5) by repealing subsection (g).

                   TITLE III--FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY

SEC. 301. EXCEPTION TO REQUIRED REGISTRATION WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE 
              SYSTEM.

    (a) Exception.--Part B of title I (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 124. EXCEPTION TO REQUIRED REGISTRATION WITH SELECTIVE SERVICE 
              SYSTEM.

    ``Notwithstanding section 12(f) of the Military Selective Service 
Act (50 U.S.C. 3811(f)), a person shall not be ineligible for 
assistance or a benefit provided under title IV if the person is 
required under section 3 of such Act (50 U.S.C. 3802) to present 
himself for and submit to registration under such section, and fails to 
do so in accordance with any proclamation, rule, or regulation issued 
under such section.''.
    (b) Repeal.--Subsection (n) of section 484 (20 U.S.C. 1901) is 
repealed.

SEC. 302. REPEAL OF SUSPENSION OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE HIGHER 
              EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 FOR GRANTS, LOANS, AND WORK 
              ASSISTANCE FOR DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES.

    (a) Repeals.--
            (1) Suspension of eligibility.--Subsection (r) of section 
        484 (20 U.S.C. 1091(r)) is repealed.
            (2) Notice.--Subsection (k) of section 485 (20 U.S.C. 1092) 
        is repealed.
    (b) Revision of FAFSA Form.--Section 483 (20 U.S.C. 1090), as 
amended by title II, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(j) Convictions.--The Secretary shall not include any question 
about the conviction of an applicant for the possession or sale of 
illegal drugs on the FAFSA (or any other form developed under 
subsection (a)).''.

SEC. 303. FEDERAL AID ELIGIBILITY FOR DREAMER STUDENTS.

    Section 484 (20 U.S.C. 1091) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(5), by inserting ``, or be a Dreamer 
        student, as defined in subsection (u)'' after ``becoming a 
        citizen or permanent resident''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(u) Dreamer Students.--
            ``(1) In general.--In this section, the term `Dreamer 
        student' means an individual who--
                    ``(A) was younger than 16 years of age on the date 
                on which the individual initially entered the United 
                States;
                    ``(B) has provided a list of each secondary school 
                that the student attended in the United States; and
                    ``(C)(i) has earned a high school diploma, the 
                recognized equivalent of such diploma from a secondary 
                school, or a high school equivalency diploma in the 
                United States or is scheduled to complete the 
                requirements for such a diploma or equivalent before 
                the next academic year begins;
                    ``(ii) has acquired a degree from an institution of 
                higher education or has completed not less than 2 years 
                in a program for a baccalaureate degree or higher 
                degree at an institution of higher education in the 
                United States and has made satisfactory academic 
                progress, as defined in subsection (c), during such 
                time period;
                    ``(iii) at any time was eligible for a grant of 
                deferred action under--
                            ``(I) the June 15, 2012, memorandum from 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security entitled 
                        `Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with 
                        Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United 
                        States as Children'; or
                            ``(II) the November 20, 2014, memorandum 
                        from the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                        entitled `Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion 
                        with Respect to Individuals Who Came to the 
                        United States as Children and with Respect to 
                        Certain Individuals Who Are the Parents of U.S. 
                        Citizens or Permanent Residents'; or
                    ``(iv) has served in the uniformed services, as 
                defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code, 
                for not less than 4 years and, if discharged, received 
                an honorable discharge.
            ``(2) Hardship exception.--The Secretary shall issue 
        regulations that direct when the Department shall waive the 
        requirement of subparagraph (A) or (B), or both, of paragraph 
        (1) for an individual to qualify as a Dreamer student under 
        such paragraph, if the individual--
                    ``(A) demonstrates compelling circumstances for the 
                inability to satisfy the requirement of such 
                subparagraph (A) or (B), or both; and
                    ``(B) satisfies the requirement of paragraph 
                (1)(C).''.

                 TITLE IV--FINANCIAL AID SHOPPING SHEET

SEC. 401. FINANCIAL AID SHOPPING SHEET.

    (a) Secretarial Requirements.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than the effective date of this 
        Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
        Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, shall develop and 
        finalize a financial shopping sheet that ensures each 
        institution of higher education provides meaningful information 
        about the financial cost and quality of such institution to 
        students (including students who have authorized the Department 
        of Education to send the student's Institutional Student 
        Information Record to such institution) to assist such students 
        in determining how to use financial aid to attend such 
        institution, and which--
                    (A) is standardized so that it can be used by all 
                institutions of higher education;
                    (B) is consumer tested, and presented in a manner 
                that is simple and easily understandable; and
                    (C) is personalized for each student who receives 
                such sheet by including--
                            (i) the cost of attendance of the 
                        educational program in which the student is 
                        enrolled or seeks to be enrolled;
                            (ii) the type of Federal educational 
                        benefits available to assist in covering such 
                        cost of attendance, including loans and grants 
                        under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
                        1965;
                            (iii) the amount of financial aid, 
                        including Federal, State, institutional, or 
                        other aid that can be used to assist in 
                        covering such cost of attendance;
                            (iv) information about student outcomes for 
                        students who graduate from such educational 
                        program, including, based upon the most recent 
                        data available--
                                    (I) the graduation rate;
                                    (II) the loan repayment rate; and
                                    (III) the estimated loan debt upon 
                                graduation; and
                            (v) any other information that facilitates 
                        comparison of aid packages offered by different 
                        institutions of higher education.
            (2) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of 
                attendance'' has the meaning given the term in section 
                472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1087ll).
                    (B) Institution of higher education.--The term 
                ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
                given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
    (b) Institution of Higher Education Requirement.--Section 487(a) of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(30) The institution will use a financial aid shopping 
        sheet described in section 401(a) of the Simple FAFSA Act of 
        2017 as its sole financial award letter or include such sheet 
        as a supplemental cover to such financial award letter.''.
                                 <all>