No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026

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Bill ID: 119/hr/7892
Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

ID: O000086

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 30 - 3.

March 17, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The "No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026" claims to prevent identity fraud in federal financial aid applications by requiring the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system. How noble. In reality, it's a thinly veiled attempt to justify more bureaucratic red tape and create new opportunities for crony capitalism.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding a new section requiring the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA application. If an application raises suspicions, the Secretary must notify the applicant and institutions designated by the applicant, who will then be subject to additional verification requirements. Because, you know, the current system isn't already Byzantine enough.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects:

* Students (or "ghost students," as the bill so cleverly puts it): Will face more hoops to jump through and potential delays in receiving financial aid. * Institutions of higher education: Will be burdened with additional verification procedures, because who doesn't love more paperwork? * The Secretary of Education: Gets to play Big Brother with a shiny new identity fraud detection system. * Lobbyists and contractors: Will likely reap the benefits of this new "solution" in the form of lucrative government contracts.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of treating symptoms rather than the disease. The real issue isn't identity fraud, but the systemic problems plaguing our higher education system, such as skyrocketing costs and inadequate funding. By creating more bureaucratic hurdles, this bill will only serve to:

* Increase administrative burdens on institutions, potentially leading to higher costs for students. * Delay or deny financial aid to legitimate students, exacerbating existing inequalities in access to education. * Create new opportunities for corruption and cronyism through the implementation of the identity fraud detection system.

In short, this bill is a masterclass in legislative misdirection. It's a solution in search of a problem, designed to justify more government overreach and line the pockets of special interests. Bravo, Congress. You've done it again.

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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$127,006
22 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$5,300
Committees
$0
Individuals
$121,706

No PAC contributions found

1
UTE INDIAN TRIBE
1 transaction
$3,300
2
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,000

No committee contributions found

1
PALMER, JEFFERY
1 transaction
$13,200
2
JENKINS, JAMES W.
1 transaction
$10,000
3
HOLSCHER, KELLY
1 transaction
$6,600
4
LISONBEE, DAVID
1 transaction
$6,600
5
OVERHOLT, DAVID W. MR.
1 transaction
$6,600
6
DAICHENDT, JOE
1 transaction
$6,600
7
GRIFFIN, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,600
8
PALMER, KELLY
1 transaction
$6,600
9
TAYLOR, MARGARETTA J. MS.
1 transaction
$6,600
10
LEVEY, ARTHUR
1 transaction
$6,600
11
FISHER, KENNETH
1 transaction
$6,600
12
FISHER, SHERRILYN
1 transaction
$6,600
13
MCGOVERN, JAMES F.
1 transaction
$5,000
14
HONIG, KEN
1 transaction
$5,000
15
CANNATELLI, ED
1 transaction
$5,000
16
DUCKWORTH, RICHARD
1 transaction
$4,306
17
CARTER, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$3,300
18
OVERHOLT, SELENA
1 transaction
$3,300
19
DREYFUS, ALFRED MR.
1 transaction
$3,300
20
DAMSKI, SETH MR.
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]

ID: K000401

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COM ARLINGTON, VA
$30
Oct 24, 2024
2
WINRED
COM ARLINGTON, VA
$10
Oct 29, 2024
3
BENNETT WEST ROSEVILLE LLC
NOT INCORPORATED
Organization ORANGEVALE, CA
$3,000
Oct 21, 2024
4
NICHOLSON & OLSON, CPAS
UNINCORPORATED PARTNERSHIP
Organization ROSEVILLE, CA
$750
Jun 28, 2023
5
NASH, JILL
N/A NOT EMPLOYOED
Individual LINCOLN, CA
$6,600
Jul 22, 2024
6
ROWE, SUSAN
N/A NOT EMPLOYED
Individual BAKERSFIELD, CA
$6,600
May 20, 2024
7
BURKE, TIM
QUEST TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS OWNER
Individual ORANGEVALE, CA
$6,600
Oct 10, 2024
8
SMYTH, CHARLES
Individual GRANITE BAY, CA
$6,600
Nov 3, 2024
9
FRANCK, KASI
SELF DENTIST
Individual ROCKLIN, CA
$6,600
Dec 28, 2023
10
BRADLEY, KATHERINE
CITYBRIDGE FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$5,000
Sep 11, 2024

Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]

ID: G000576

Top Contributors

10

1
HO CHUNK NATION
Organization BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
2
GENTINE, LOUIS P. II
SARGENTO EXECUTIVE
Individual ELKHART LAKE, WI
$13,200
Mar 15, 2024
3
SCHLIFSKE, JOHN E.
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Individual ELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
4
SCHLIFSKE, KIM C.
HOMEMAKER HOMEMAKER
Individual ELM GROVE, WI
$6,600
Mar 22, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD
EDWARD C LEVY CO CHAIRMAN
Individual BIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Apr 10, 2024
6
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual GREEN BAY, WI
$5,000
Nov 22, 2023
7
WELLS, CECELIA A.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual MEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
8
WELLS, CECELIA
Individual MEQUON, WI
$5,000
Jun 30, 2023
9
AYLWARD, RICHARD J. MR.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual NEENAH, WI
$4,000
Mar 15, 2024
10
KRESS, DONALD F.
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual GREEN BAY, WI
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]

ID: F000450

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Apr 26, 2024
2
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
Organization CHEROKEE, NC
$2,000
Dec 18, 2023
3
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF CHUMASH INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$2,000
Mar 11, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,650
May 31, 2023
5
CATAWBA NATION TRIBE
Organization ROCK HILL, SC
$1,500
Mar 1, 2024
6
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Jun 30, 2023
7
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization BANNING, CA
$1,500
Apr 29, 2024
8
MOORE, JOHN T. MR.
MARWOOD GROUP CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$5,000
Aug 26, 2024
9
BARKER, PATRICIA M. MRS.
BOB BARKER CO CORP SECRETARY
Individual FUQUAY VARINA, NC
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024
10
DRESCHER, STEPHANIE MS.
APOLLO PARTNER
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 4, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 34 nodes and 31 connections

Total contributions: $160,446

Top Donors - Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

Showing top 22 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs20 Individuals