Theres no room for the public, but this is all streaming and there will be an unedited version that anyone can watch later. Our witnesses are participating by Video Conference today and some senators are as well. I would like to Say Something about mass. The office of attending position that he says since were six feet apart, we dont need to wear masks, although some may. I have one and i wear it outside because as dr. Redfield reminded us yesterday, its extremely important tool for stopping the spread of covid. Im grateful to the rules committee. Sergeant arms, the capitol lice and chun check and Evan Griffith and the people with all their hard work in helping us keep safe and helping us do these conferences by video which everyone has become pretty expert. Senator murray and i will have an opening statement. Well turn to our witness who we thank for being with us today. Each witness if you would summarize your remarks in five minutes, that would leave more time for questions and answ
Captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2008 lets turn our attention to one of the important issues, and it is this. 20 Million Students and their families are in the middle of what has to be the strangest first semester of college in at least a century. Almost everything has changed for students except one thing, students still have to answer 108 questions on the dreaded fafsa form, federal aid application for pell grants and Student Loans to help go to college. For years now ive carried around the fafsa as a prop to make the case for simplifying it, but its no joke, especially this year. Many students are questioning their investment in a College Education at a time when many classes are only offering online courses, many of low income students who would benefit most economically from college long term are putting it off altogether. There was an 8 drop in the number of black undergraduate students enrolled in summer sessions compared with last summers enrollment according t
First a few administrative matters. We have gotten advice from the sergeant at arms, the health and Human Services centers for disease control, individuals in the hearing room will he at least 6 feet apart. There is no room for the public and therefore but this is all streaming and therell be an unedited version of it that anyone can watch later. Witnesses are participating by videoconference today and some senators are as well. I like to Say Something about mask. The office of attending physician has said since we are 6 feet apart we dont need to wear masks although some may. Thats why my mask is off. Although i have one and i wear it outside because as dr. Redfield reminded us yesterday its extremely important tool for stopping the spread of covid. Im grateful to the rules committee, sergeant at arms the press gallery and the Capitol Police and chung check in the Evan Griffith r. Staff, all their hard work in helping to keep us safe in helping us do these conferences by video with wh
Senate committee on Health Education and pensions will please come to order. Im usually on time and excuse me for being late. We reauthorize a Higher Education act. Today were looking at ways to simplify the free application for student aid or fafsa to make it easier for students to apply for federal Financial Aid. Well introduce the witnesses and after your testimony senators will have five minutes of questions. Senators may be coming and going because of the tax bill. Nearly four years ago in a hearing before this committee an unusual thing happened. Four witnesses from diverse back grntds agreed that almost all of the 108 questions on the free application for federal student aid or fafsa are unnecessary. The fafsa is the government form 20 million families fill out every year to qualify for it federal aid that helps nearly 20 Million Students attend universities. Weve spent a lot of time holding this to remind people of all it questions even though most people fill it out online. Th
Senate committee on Health Education and pensions will please come to order. Im usually on time and excuse me for being late. We reauthorize a Higher Education act. Today were looking at ways to simplify the free application for student aid or fafsa to make it easier for students to apply for federal Financial Aid. Well introduce the witnesses and after your testimony senators will have five minutes of questions. Senators may be coming and going because of the tax bill. Nearly four years ago in a hearing before this committee an unusual thing happened. Four witnesses from diverse back grntds agreed that almost all of the 108 questions on the free application for federal student aid or fafsa are unnecessary. The fafsa is the government form 20 million families fill out every year to qualify for it federal aid that helps nearly 20 Million Students attend universities. Weve spent a lot of time holding this to remind people of all it questions even though most people fill it out online. Th