Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has announced that the Senate has unanimously passed his legislation requiring the Department of Education to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form available each year on October 1. This move follows a similar unanimous approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, and the bill now awaits the President's signature.

Senator Cassidy expressed concern over delays caused by what he described as "bureaucratic incompetence" under the Biden-Harris administration, which forced students to make college decisions without knowing their financial aid status. He stated, "The Biden-Harris FAFSA delays forced students to choose their college without knowing their financial aid status, or not attend college at all because they didn’t know if they could afford it. No student should have their dreams threatened because of bureaucratic incompetence."

Prior to 2023, FAFSA forms were typically available by October 1, allowing adequate time for students and schools to complete applications and process financial aid offers before acceptance deadlines. However, in 2023, delays resulted in forms being unavailable until months after this date, affecting students' ability to receive timely financial aid information.

Senator Cassidy criticized the administration's focus on student loan schemes instead of ensuring timely availability of FAFSA forms. He noted that due to these delays, 432,000 potential college applicants did not complete the FAFSA form last year.

Cassidy emphasized that his legislation is intended to hold the Department of Education accountable and ensure that students have access to necessary financial information when choosing a college. He urged prompt signing into law: "This commonsense bill holds the Department of Education accountable and ensures students have the financial information to choose the best, affordable college option for them. It should be signed into law without delay."

The outcome now depends on presidential approval.