US Representative Susan Wild form Pennsylvania, a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, along with 70 of her colleagues, voiced her concerns on the delayed rollout of this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In their letter, the members of Congress also requested the US Department of Education (USDE) provide answers to questions raised by families and students across the nation and clarity on the timeline.

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“For many students in our community and across the country, the FAFSA is the first step to make higher education more affordable and accessible,” said Congresswoman Susan Wild. “I’ve heard from families and colleges in the Lehigh Valley about the strain FAFSA delays have already had on them, and I’m deeply concerned that additional delays will negatively impact those most in need of aid. I’m urging the USDE to do everything it can to support our students and institutions of higher education.”

In their letter, the lawmakers write, “We write today to ask for more clarity on how the USDE plans to communicate any further delays in FAFSA processing, and how the USDE intends to minimize the potential impact on students and families so they can make the most informed decision possible about their futures, including through providing prompt, clear timelines.”

Approximately 17 million students fill out the FAFSA each year. As a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, which was signed into law in 2021, the USDE streamlined the application process and updated formulas used to assess students’ financial need. The USDE estimates that these updates will allow 1.5 million more students from low-income backgrounds to be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award.

Read the full letter here.