,i  #aaith ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #beba  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,march #ca1 #bjbe,mr4
 ,smith of ,new ,jersey introduced the  
following bill2 which was referred to   
the ,committee on ,education and        
,workforce  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend the    
,higher ,education ,act of #aife to     
protect opportunities for families in   
the ,federal student aid process1 and   
for other purposes4  #a4 ,short title   
,this ,act may be cited as the ,american
 ,family ,,fafsa ,opportunity ,act of   
#bjbe4  #b4 ,eliminating the sibling    
penalty ,paragraph 7#c7 of section      
#dge7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act 
of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgoo7b77#c77 
is amended to read as follows3  7#c7    
dividing the assessment resulting under 
paragraph 7#b7 by the number of the     
family members1 excluding student's     
parents1 who are enrolled or accepted   
for enrollment1 on at least a half-time 
basis1 in a degree1 certificate1 or     
other program leading to a recognized   

educational credential at an institution
 of higher education that is an eligible
 institution in accordance with the     
provisions of section #dhg during the   
award period for which assistance under 
the title is requested2 except that the 
amount determined under this subsection 
shall not be less than zero4 4  #c4     
,effective date ,the amendment made by  
this ,act shall take effect on the date 
of enactment of this ,act1 and shall    
apply with respect to award year        
#bjbe-bjbf and each subsequent award    
year1 as determined under the ,higher   
,education ,act of #aife4