IB 
Union Calendar No. 526 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5528 
[Report No. 114–678] 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the FAFSA, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 20, 2016 
Mr. HECK of Nevada (for himself, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. POLIS, and Mr. 
POCAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and the Workforce 
JULY 11, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. CURBELO of Florida, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. KLINE, Mr. 
THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mr. SCOTT of Vir-
ginia, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. COURTNEY, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. 
ADAMS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, and Mrs. DAVIS of California 
JULY 11, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 20, 2016] 
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A BILL 
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify 
the FAFSA, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Simplifying the Appli-
cation for Student Aid Act’’. 
SEC. 2. USING DATA FROM SECOND PRECEDING YEAR. 
Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B)) is amended by striking 
‘‘may’’ in both places it appears and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
SEC. 3. CALCULATION OF ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT PERCENT-
AGE FOR FEDERAL PELL GRANTS. 
Section 401(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(b)(7)(C)(iv)(I)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘calendar year’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal year’’. 
SEC. 4. FAFSA SIMPLIFICATION. 
(a) FAFSA SIMPLIFICATION.—Section 483 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(I) FORMAT.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of the Simpli-
fying the Application for Student Aid Act, the 
Secretary shall make the electronic version of the 
forms under this paragraph available through a 
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technology tool that can be used on mobile de-
vices. Such technology tool shall, at minimum, 
enable applicants to— 
‘‘(i) save data; and 
‘‘(ii) submit their FAFSA to the Sec-
retary through such tool. 
‘‘(J) CONSUMER
TESTING.—In developing 
and maintaining the electronic version of the 
forms under this paragraph and the technology 
tool for mobile devices under subparagraph (I), 
the Secretary shall conduct consumer testing 
with appropriate persons to ensure the forms 
and technology tool are designed to be easily usa-
ble and understandable by students and families. 
Such consumer testing shall include— 
‘‘(i) current and prospective college 
students, family members of such students, 
and other individuals with expertise in stu-
dent financial assistance application proc-
esses; 
‘‘(ii) dependent students and inde-
pendent students meeting the requirements 
under subsection (b) or (c) of section 479; 
and 
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