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HR 2956 108th Congress House

Financial Aid Simplification Act

Official title: To begin the process of simplifying the Federal student financial aid process, making it easier and more understandable for students and families to participat… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To begin the process of simplifying the Federal student financial aid process, making it easier and more understandable for students and families to participate in Federal student financial aid programs.

Introduced: July 25, 2003 See on congress.gov
Education Agriculture and FoodCongressCongressional reporting requirementsEconomics and Public Finance
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Electronic government informationElementary and secondary educationFederal aid to educationFood stampsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment lendingGovernment paperworkGovernment publicityGovernmental investigationsHigher educationInternetLabor and EmploymentScholarshipsSchool lunch programScience, Technology, Communications
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 13, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
Jul 25, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jul 25, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 13, 2003

Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Financial Aid Simplification Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to study and report to specified congressional committees on the feasibility of simplifying the need analysis methodology for all Federal student financial assistance programs and the process of applying for such assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Requires the Secretary of Education within one year after the report's submission to initiate a redesign of the FAFSA

Revises eligibility requirements for filing of a simplified FAFSA to allow, as an alternative to not being required to file an income tax return, that the student's parents or the student (and the student's wife, if any) received benefits under a means-tested Federal benefit program.

Directs the Secretary to make special efforts, in conjunction with State efforts, to: (1) notify students and their parents who qualify for a free lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, the Food Stamps program, or other such programs of their potential eligibility for a maximum Pell Grant; and (2) disseminate such informational materials as necessary.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 12
All 12 Democratic 5 Republican 1
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Jun 8, 2004
SPRATT, JOHN
· Oct 21, 2003
 D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Sep 16, 2003
 D
Case, Ed
Hawaii · Sep 10, 2003
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Sep 10, 2003
FROST, MARTIN
· Sep 10, 2003
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Sep 10, 2003
BALLENGER, CASS
· Jul 25, 2003
BOEHNER, JOHN
· Jul 25, 2003
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Jul 25, 2003
GREENWOOD, JAMES
· Jul 25, 2003
Isakson, Johnny
· Jul 25, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2956: Financial Aid Simplification Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2956/
MLA
"H.R. 2956: Financial Aid Simplification Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2956/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2956, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2956/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2956: Financial Aid Simplification Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-2956/)
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