Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Bill Cassidy - Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Tomorrow, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Joni Ernst, and Roger Marshall, will hold a press conference to discuss the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The Department of Education's delays in implementing FAFSA have caused significant problems for students and families.
One of the key issues resulting from the delays is that high school counselors have had to postpone financial aid information sessions. As a result, they are now rushing to connect with students and families to help them navigate through the new FAFSA process. Furthermore, these setbacks mean that colleges cannot provide students with financial aid offers.
The Biden administration recently announced that it will further delay the transmission of FAFSA information to colleges and universities until mid-March. This is a significant delay since the transmission was originally supposed to begin in late January. These ongoing delays create a real possibility that many students may choose not to attend college because they are unable to make an informed decision about their eligibility for student aid.
Senator Cassidy, Senator Capito, Senator Ernst, Senator Marshall, and 24 other Republican lawmakers have submitted a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a formal investigation into the Department of Education's mishandling of FAFSA and the impact it is having on students and families.
The press conference will take place on Thursday, February 1st, 2024, at the Senate Radio-Television Gallery (S-325). The event will be livestreamed, and attendees are requested to RSVP to Stephen Lewerenz at Stephen_Lewerenz@help.senate.gov.
This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed promptly to ensure that students have access to the financial aid information they need to make informed decisions about their education. The delays in implementing FAFSA have caused significant disruptions, and it is crucial that the Biden administration takes swift action to rectify the situation.
For more information and updates from HELP Republicans, please visit their website or follow them on Twitter at @GOPHELP.
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