HouseH.R. 7892119th Congress
No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7892 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 583
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7892
[Report No. 119-669]
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 12, 2026
Mr. Owens introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
May 26, 2026
Additional sponsors: Mr. Kiley of California, Mr. Grothman, Ms. Foxx,
and Mr. Obernolte
May 26, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March
12, 2026]
_______________________________________________________________________
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) Amendments.--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) Guidelines on 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).
Union Calendar No. 583
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7892
[Report No. 119-669]
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
May 26, 2026
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed