Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act - Simplifying the FAFSA and Reducing the Burden of Verification - Hearing

Oct 15, 2026

Examining the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, this U.S. Senate hearing focuses on simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process and reducing the verification burden. Held on March 12, 2019 before the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, it includes opening statements by senators and testimony from multiple witnesses, followed by prepared materials and a structured question-and-answer segment addressing senators’ inquiries.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages71

Reading Time2 h 59 min

AccessFree to download

Statements

Committee Members

Opening statements

Witnesses

Prepared and summary statements

Additional Material

Addendum to testimony

Example forms

Questions and Answers

Responses to senator questions

S. HRG. 116–361 REAUTHORIZING THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT: SIMPLIFYING THE FAFSA AND REDUCING THE BURDEN OF VERIFICATION HEARING OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON EXAMINING REAUTHORIZING THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, FOCUSING ON SIMPLIFYING THE FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID AND REDUCING THE BURDEN OF VERIFICATION MARCH 12, 2019 Printed for the use of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ( Available via the World Wide Web: [http://www.govinfo.gov](http://www.govinfo.gov) U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 41–392 PDF WASHINGTON : 2021 COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, AND PENSIONS LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee, Chairman MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming RICHARD BURR, North Carolina JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia RAND PAUL, Kentucky SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine BILL CASSIDY, M.D., Louisiana PAT ROBERTS, Kansas LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska TIM SCOTT, South Carolina MITT ROMNEY, Utah MIKE BRAUN, Indiana PATTY MURRAY, Washington BERNARD SANDERS (I), Vermont ROBERT P. CASEY, JR., Pennsylvania TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts TIM KAINE, Virginia MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, New Hampshire TINA SMITH, Minnesota DOUG JONES, Alabama JACKY ROSEN, Nevada DAVID P. CLEARY, Republican Staff Director LINDSEY WARD SEIDMAN, Republican Deputy Staff Director EVAN SCHATZ, Minority Staff Director JOHN RIGHTER, Minority Deputy Staff Director (II) C O N T E N T S STATEMENTS TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 Page COMMITTEE MEMBERS Alexander, Hon. Lamar, Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Opening statement ...................................................................... 1 Baldwin, Hon. Tammy, Ranking Member, a U.S. Senator from the State of Wisconsin, Opening statement ....................................................................... 3 Murray, Hon. Patty, Ranking Member, a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington, Opening statement ......................................................................... 3 WITNESSES Scott, Kristina, Executive Director, Alabama Possible, Birmingham, AL .......... 9 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 10 Summary statement ......................................................................................... 14 Meotti, Michael, Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council, Olympia, WA .................................................................................................. 15 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 16 Summary statement ......................................................................................... 19 Wiederspan, Dr., Mark, Executive Research Officer, Iowa Student Aid, Des Moines, IA ............................................................................................................. 20 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 22 Summary statement ......................................................................................... 27 Scott, Taylor, Dr., Michele, Chief Program Officer, College Now Cleveland, Cleveland, OH ...................................................................................................... 28 Prepared statement .......................................................................................... 30 Summary statement ......................................................................................... 34 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL Statements, articles, publications, letters, etc. Addendum to the Testimony of Kristina Scott ............................................... 50 Washington State College Bound Sign up Form Example ...........................

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the hearing held on March 12, 2019?

To examine reauthorizing the Higher Education Act with an emphasis on simplifying FAFSA and reducing the burden of verification.

Which committee holds the hearing?

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

What sections are included beyond opening statements?

The record includes witness prepared and summary statements, additional material such as an addendum and example form, and a questions-and-answers portion with responses to senator inquiries.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by นรินทร์