To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Change the Minimum Student Age on the FAFSA from 25 to 21.
College students under the age of 25 who come from low-income backgrounds and have parents that are unwilling to supply tax information to their FAFSA are being left out in the dark, unable to attend unless their parents change their minds. The only recourse for them is to file as a person who is homeless or at risk of being homeless, but there are many of them that support themselves but don't fit either criteria, so they're unable to get an education. I implore congress to change the criteria in favor of the student, as they're the one who shoulders the debt of attending college, and many low income students come from broken homes. Any adult male over the age of 21 can serve in the military, drink, get married, have a full time job, and own property; but they cannot choose to file by themselves on the FAFSA.
Why is this important?
My name is Francis Barbour Jr. and my father has refused to supply his tax transcripts to my FAFSA because his wife (my step-mother) doesn't like me. I have filed taxes myself for the past three years, and haven't lived with him for eight years, but am unable to continue attending my university because I require his tax information on my financial aid application. I have a 3.5 GPA, have two years left on my degree, and have lost out on my scholarships because of this issue.