SECTION 1. Short Title.
This Act may be cited as the “FAFSA Deadline Act”.
FAFSA Deadline Act
An Act
To establish an earlier application processing cycle for the FAFSA.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SEC. 2. Establishment of Earlier Application Processing Cycle.
Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4)) is amended by striking “ not later than January 1 of the applicant’s planned year of enrollment, to the maximum extent practicable, on or around October 1 prior to the applicant’s planned year of enrollment” and inserting “ not later than October 1 prior to the applicant’s planned year of enrollment”.
SEC. 3. Certification and Testimony Requirements.
Section 483(d)(4) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090(d)(4)) is further amended—
by striking “ The Secretary” and inserting the following:
“(A) In general.—The Secretary”
; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) Certification and testimony requirements.—The Secretary shall, with respect to each application processing cycle, prior to the initiation of such processing cycle—
“(i) on a date that is not later than September 1—
“(I) certify to the authorizing committees that the Department will meet the October 1 deadline specified in subparagraph (A) for such processing cycle; or
“(II) certify to such committees that the Department will not meet such deadline; and
“(ii) in the case of a certification described in clause (i)(II), on a date that is not later than September 30, testify before the authorizing committees on—
“(I) the anticipated failure to meet such deadline; and
“(II) the financial impact such failure will have on students and families.”