Murray Statement on Administration Plan to Simplify the Financial Aid Process

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the Obama Administration’s action to allow students and families to apply for financial aid earlier and use tax information from the previous year to finalize Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) forms.

“Today’s announcement is great news for students and will help increase access to higher education, so more students can gain a foothold into the middle class,” said Senator Murray. “Allowing students to apply for aid earlier and with more accurate financial information will help students and their families find affordable college options more easily and make better informed decisions about their educational careers. I was proud to work with my colleagues to call for these changes, and I look forward to continuing to find ways to ensure students from all walks of life have clear pathways into and through higher education.”

In June, Murray led a bipartisan group of members of Congress urging the Administration to take steps to simplify the financial aid process.