All around the Las Vegas Valley, high school seniors are making important decisions about where to continue their education next fall. As the father of a college freshman, I know this is an exciting time. But preparing for post-secondary education can also be a daunting task when families start to think about costs and financial aid.
Unfortunately, there are many flaws in our student aid application process. This is why I recently joined a bipartisan group of colleagues from the Hose Committee on Education and the Workforce to introduce H.R. 3177, the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act. This bill will help address the numerous roadblocks Nevada families face when going through the financial aid application process.
Many students’ and parents’ first introduction to the headache that has become the financial aid process begins with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA in January if they wish to register for fall classes. It may seem as though getting ahead of financial aid applications and filling them out early is a good idea, however it’s not that simple. The FASFA form is 10 pages long and includes over 100 questions on topics such as income, expenses, family size and assets. It also requires submissions of income tax data from the previous year, which is often unavailable at the time students are asked to begin filling out their applications. Sometimes the process is so frustrating that students and families give up, thereby disqualifying themselves from receiving much needed aid.
Our bill will make applying for financial aid much easier for students and parents. First, it will allow the use of family income data from two years prior to the date of FAFSA application as opposed to just one year. This way students can easily apply in January and get a portion of the college-preparation stress out of the way early. Next, this bill will make filling out the FASFA form easier than ever. It will directly link the online FAFSA form to a family’s income data available through the Internal Revenue Service. That way, many of the over 100 FAFSA questions will be automatically filled in, not only increasing speed but accuracy. Finally, this bill will allow more time for student aid administrators and institutions to verify reported income data, thus strengthening the overall integrity of the application process and ensuring that your tax payer dollars are going to those who truly need the aid.
Applying for financial aid is a necessary part of post-secondary education for many Nevada families but it does not need to be so overwhelming. The Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act provides a significant step towards making this process quicker and easier. I am determined to get this legislation passed in the 114th Congress because it should not be such a hassle to ensure that our children are able to receive financial support for the education they deserve.
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Congressman Joe Heck represents Nevada’s Third District in the House of Representatives where he serves on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
