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
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Joni Ernst, and Roger Marshall, will hold a press conference on Thursday, February 1st, to address the Biden administration's mishandling of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The senators will make two announcements related to the delays and failures of the FAFSA rollout.
The Department of Education's delays in implementing FAFSA have had significant consequences for students and families. High school counselors have been forced to postpone financial aid information sessions, leaving students and families in the dark about crucial financial aid information as they make decisions about which college to attend. Additionally, colleges are unable to provide students with financial aid offers due to these setbacks.
The Biden administration recently announced that the transmission of FAFSA information to colleges and universities will be delayed until mid-March, despite the original plan for transmission to begin in late January. This further delay creates a real likelihood that many students will be unable to choose a school without knowing their eligibility for student aid, potentially causing them to forgo college altogether.
In response to these issues, Cassidy, Capito, Ernst, 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 incompetent handling of FAFSA and the impact it has had on students and families.
The press conference will take place on Thursday, February 1st, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET/11:00 AM CT in the Senate Radio-Television Gallery (S-325). It will be available to watch live via a provided link. Those attending in-person or virtually are requested to RSVP to Stephen Lewerenz at Stephen_Lewerenz@help.senate.gov.
This botched FAFSA rollout has raised concerns among Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. For all news and updates from HELP Republicans, visit their website or Twitter page at @GOPHELP.
The Biden administration's failure to properly implement the FAFSA program has caused significant delays and setbacks for students and families across the country. The press conference will provide a platform for senators to address these issues and announce further actions in response to the Department of Education's mishandling of FAFSA.
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