[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SIMPLE FAFSA ACT

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 24, 2019

  Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the Simple FAFSA Act.
  Because today FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is 
anything but simple.
  In fact, the 108-question application can be so daunting that as many 
as 40 percent of students and parents simply cannot complete it.
  And that means they cannot get the help they need to make college 
more affordable, even though we have money available for them.
  In fact, $2.6 billion went unclaimed for the 2018-2019 academic year.
  So, let us do something to help these students and their families.
  The Simple FAFSA Act reduces the number of supporting documents and 
many of the questions on the current FAFSA.
  Verifying income will be much easier as parents will be able to 
retrieve and use the previous year's income data when applying under 
the bill.
  Low-income students and families--like many in the Marianas--just 
need to file the FAFSA once, as opposed to annually, to automatically 
qualify for a full Pell Grant and attend Northern Marianas College 
debt-free.
  The process is even faster for families receiving a means-tested 
benefit, like Medicaid, who will be able to skip all financial 
questions on the form.
  And the legislation opens FAFSA to DREAMers and students with prior 
drug offenses so our country can fully benefit from their potential.
  By simplifying the FAFSA, we help more students and their families 
receive the aid they need to succeed in their education and future 
careers.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to make college more 
accessible and affordable for all Americans.

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