[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7892 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7892
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary
of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each
FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of
identity fraud.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 12, 2026
Mr. Owens introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
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A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary
of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each
FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of
identity fraud.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Aid for Ghost Students Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. IDENTITY FRAUD DETECTION SYSTEM.
(a) Identity Fraud Detection System.--Section 483 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1090) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(e) Identity Fraud Detection System.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to or in conjunction with
other verification processes carried out under this title, the
Secretary shall use an identity fraud detection system to
review each application submitted under this section on or
after October 1, 2026, to determine whether the application
presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud. If the
Secretary determines that such an application presents a
reasonable suspicion of identity fraud, the Secretary shall
carry out notifications in accordance with paragraph (2).
``(2) Notification of reasonable suspicion of identity
fraud.--If the Secretary determines that an application
submitted under this section presents a reasonable suspicion of
identity fraud, the Secretary shall--
``(A) provide the applicant with notice--
``(i) of such determination and the basis
for such determination;
``(ii) that the information described in
subparagraph (B) will be transmitted to each
institution of higher education designated by
the applicant in the application; and
``(iii) that the applicant is subject to
additional identity verification requirements
in accordance with section 487(a)(15); and
``(B) transmit to each institution designated by
the applicant in the application, a notice--
``(i) that such application presents a
reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; and
``(ii) that the applicant is subject to
identity verification requirements to be
carried out by the institution in accordance
with section 487(a)(15)(B), before the
institution may disburse Federal financial aid
under this title to such applicant.
``(3) Congressional notices and report.--
``(A) Notices.--The Secretary shall submit to the
authorizing committees--
``(i) not later than November 1, 2026, a
written description of the identity fraud
detection system required under this
subsection; and
``(ii) not later than 30 days after
implementing any substantial change to such
system, a written description and rationale for
such change.
``(B) Annual evaluation and report.--Not later than
October 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
identity fraud detection system carried out under this
subsection, and submit to the authorizing committees a
report on the use and effectiveness of such system.''.
(b) Additional Verification Requirements.--
(1) Amendment.--Section 487(a)(15) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(15)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``(15) The institution
acknowledges'' and inserting ``(15)(a) The institution
acknowledges''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(B) Beginning on October 1, 2026, the institution
will not disburse Federal financial aid under this
title to an applicant whose application under section
483 presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud
under section 483(e), unless the institution, in
accordance with procedures established by the
Secretary--
``(i) determines that a reasonable
suspicion of identity fraud is not present by
confirming the identity of such applicant using
in-person verification or live, synchronous
audiovisual verification;
``(ii) notifies the Secretary that the
identity of the applicant has been verified;
and
``(iii) maintains a record of such identity
verification.''.
(2) Institutional verification procedures.--Not later than
October 1, 2026, the Secretary of Education shall establish
guidelines with respect to identity verification procedures to
be carried out by institutions of higher education under
subparagraph (B) of section 487(a)(15) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)(15)), as amended by paragraph
(1).
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