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HR 4478 116th Congress House Education Government information and archives Higher education Immigrant health and welfare Student aid and college costs Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Simple FAFSA Act of 2019

Introduced: September 24, 2019 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Sep 24, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Sep 24, 2019
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1196)
Sep 24, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Simple FAFSA Act of 2019

This bill revises the application process, eligibility requirements, and certain calculations related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Specifically, the bill

  • establishes three pathways for FAFSA applicants to submit income or asset information;
  • establishes a certification process whereby a student who submits an initial FAFSA, and who certifies in the subsequent year that their dependency status has not changed, shall not be required to submit another FAFSA to maintain aid eligibility;
  • requires the Department of Education (ED) to make the FAFSA form available in multiple languages and in formats that are accessible to individual with disabilities;
  • repeals provisions that make ineligible for federal student aid any individual who fails to register with selective service or has committed drug-related offenses;
  • prohibits ED from asking questions relating to whether an applicant for federal student aid has committed any drug-related offenses;
  • expands eligibility for federal student aid to certain students who entered the United States prior to age 16;
  • increases support for working students;
  • requires ED to assign an applicant an expected family contribution of zero in certain situations (e.g., if the student received a federal means-tested benefit such as Medicaid during the previous twenty-four months); and
  • requires ED to use data from the second preceding tax year to simplify the application process and determination of financial aid eligibility.
What's happening now September 24, 2019

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Related & companion bills 5
  • HR 4674 Related bill College Affordability Act
  • HR 4787 Related bill Working Students Act
  • HR 4216 Related bill Strengthening Financial Aid for Students Act (Strengthening FAFSA)
  • HR 4240 Related bill File Once FAFSA Act
  • HR 8748 Related bill HONOR Our Veterans’ Sacrifice Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Bera, Ami
California · Sep 24, 2019
 D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · Sep 24, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4478: Simple FAFSA Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4478/
MLA
"H.R. 4478: Simple FAFSA Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4478/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4478, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4478/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4478: Simple FAFSA Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-4478/)
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