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Alexander touts elimination of ‘bureaucratic nightmare’ provision on student federal college aid applications

In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alexander says in a written statement that impeaching Trump would be a "mistake." He says next year's election is "the right way to decide who should be president." He says it was "inappropriate" for Trump to push another country to investigate a political opponent. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alexander says in a written statement that impeaching Trump would be a "mistake." He says next year's election is "the right way to decide who should be president." He says it was "inappropriate" for Trump to push another country to investigate a political opponent. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Alexander says in a written statement that impeaching Trump would be a "mistake." He says next year's election is "the right way to decide who should be president." He says it was "inappropriate" for Trump to push another country to investigate a political opponent. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

By Andy Sher 5 min read

NASHVILLE – A yearslong effort by U.S. Senate Education Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander to simplify an application form for current and prospective college students seeking federal aid cleared Congress last week.

The bill, called the FUTURE Act, also permanently reauthorizes and provides $255 million in annual mandatory funding for historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions. Tennessee is home to seven HBCU institutions, including Fisk University, Meharry Medical College and Lane College.

Alexander, a Tennessee Republican and former U.S. education secretary, called the deletion of up to 22 questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form a “big first step in simplifying the FAFSA,” a move that should help end what he said is a “bureaucratic nightmare” for millions of students.

His provision was approved as an amendment.

“It’s hard to think of a piece of legislation that would have more of a lasting impact on minority students and their families than this bill,” Alexander said in a news release.