HR 5528 114th Congress House Education Government information and archives Higher education Inflation and prices Student aid and college costs Tax administration and collection, taxpayers Telephone and wireless communication

Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act

Introduced: June 20, 2016 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 12, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Jul 11, 2016

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jul 11, 2016

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4611)

Jul 11, 2016

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4611)

Jul 11, 2016

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5528.

Jul 11, 2016

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4611-4613)

Jul 11, 2016

Mr. Heck (NV) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Jul 11, 2016

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 526.

Jul 11, 2016

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 114-678.

Jun 22, 2016

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Jun 22, 2016

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Jun 20, 2016

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Jun 20, 2016

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Department of Education (ED) to use tax information from the second preceding tax year (the "prior, prior year") to determine a student's financial aid eligibility. It requires data sharing between ED and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), pursuant to taxpayer consent.

(Sec. 3) The bill revises the annual adjustment percentage calculation used to determine the total maximum Federal Pell Grant award by measuring inflation over the most recent fiscal year instead of calendar year.

(Sec. 4) ED must develop and maintain a consumer-tested technology tool to allow a federal financial aid applicant to complete, save, and submit electronic forms (e.g., the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) using a mobile device.

Additionally, ED must make every effort to allow applicants to utilize the existing IRS data tool to automatically populate the electronic forms with tax return information.

ED must report to Congress on: (1) efforts to simplify the federal financial aid application process, and (2) the needs of limited English proficient students.

What's happening now July 12, 2016

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees of jurisdiction 2