I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2956
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2003
Mr. MCKEON (for himself, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. 
PETRI, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. KELLER, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. GREENWOOD, 
Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Mr. 
KUCINICH, Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. HOLT, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. 
ISAKSON, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. UPTON, 
Mr. BLUNT, and Mr. EHLERS) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To begin the process of simplifying the Federal student fi-
nancial aid process, making it easier and more under-
standable for students and families to participate in Fed-
eral student financial aid programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Financial Aid Simplification Act’’.
(b) REFERENCE.—Whenever in this Act an amend-
ment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment 
to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provi-
sion of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 
et seq.). 
SEC. 2. SIMPLIFICATION OF THE FREE APPLICATION FOR 
FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FASFA). 
Section 491 (20 U.S.C. 1098) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (k) as sub-
section (l); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (j) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(k) SPECIAL STUDY OF SIMPLIFICATION OF NEED 
ANALYSIS AND APPLICATION FOR TITLE IV AID.—
‘‘(1) STUDY
REQUIRED.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall conduct a thorough study of the feasi-
bility of simplifying the need analysis methodology 
for all Federal student financial assistance programs 
and the process of applying for such assistance. 
‘‘(2) REQUIRED SUBJECTS OF STUDY.—In per-
forming the study, the Advisory Committee shall, at 
a minimum, examine the following: 
‘‘(A) whether the methodology used to cal-
culate the expected family contribution can be
simplified without significant adverse effects on 
program intent, costs, integrity, delivery, and 
distribution of awards; 
‘‘(B) whether the number of data elements, 
and, accordingly, the number and complexity of 
questions asked of students and families, used 
to calculate the expected family contribution 
can be reduced without such adverse effects; 
‘‘(C) whether the procedures for deter-
mining such data elements, including deter-
mining and updating offsets and allowances, is 
the most efficient, effective, and fair means to 
determine a family’s available income and as-
sets; 
‘‘(D) whether the nature and timing of ap-
plication required in section 483 (a)(1), eligi-
bility and award determination, financial aid 
processing, and funds delivery can be stream-
lined further for students and families, institu-
tions, and States; 
‘‘(E) whether it is feasible to allow stu-
dents to complete limited sections of the finan-
cial aid application that only apply to their spe-
cific circumstances and the State in which they 
reside;