The revision closes the loophole whereby students who skipped the question could still get federal money. The Clinton administration ignored the law last year, after so many students were baffled by the question they answered incorrectly or left it blank, the Associated Press reports. Many applicants who left the question blank received aid anyway. Critics call the question itself unfair because wealthy applicants can still afford college without aid. Others say it's difficult to enforce, because there is no way to know if applicants lied on the form.
Officials can only conduct random audits of applicants each year.
The form should be restored to the way it was since 1965. The question was introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., as part of the Higher Education Act of 1998. It started affecting student aid last year, when nearly one million of 10 million applicants skipped the question. And Bush officials promise to smooth any existing problems with the law left from last year. This document may be distributed electronically for personal use only, provided it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice.