Rep. Lloyd Doggett Introduces Bill to Help Students Access Financial Aid

Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, is introducing the Equitable Student Aid Access Act, which would simplify the not-so-simple FFASA and help students access federal financial aid.

"Too many students find the FAFSA too complicated to complete, so they lose access to available financial aid, causing many to abandon college education," said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. "Students who failed to complete the FAFSA could have received millions in federal assistance. My bill, like my prior successful FAFSA legislation, is designed to take the next step in removing unnecessary obstacles to ease access to student financial aid. All students who qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or food assistance through SNAP, for example, would be able to complete a shorter form FAFSA to access the full Pell Grant amount. The bill also codifies that the FAFSA is available earlier, in October, and broadens access to the full Pell Grant amount for some of our most struggling families."

"I have spoken out against President Trump's proposed budget cuts, including slashing funding for the Department of Education by 13.5 percent. We need to invest in education and in our students, not cut funding."

The National College Access Network demonstrated full support for this bill:

"This bill is an important next step in the endeavor to simplify access to federal student aid for low-income students, and the National College Access Network is pleased to support it," saidExecutive Director Kim Cook. "Families who receive means-tested benefits should not have to prove again and again that they are poor. The other elements of the bill return old benefits and make permanent new ones, but the change to allow families receiving particular means-tested benefits families to be guaranteed a full Pell Grant is one that NCAN strongly supports to better serve our students."

The bill is also supported by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and National Association for College Admission Counseling. The Equitable Student Aid Access Act currently has 63 cosponsors.