Maintain the taxable status of Graduate Student Assistantship Stipends - and financial accessibility .
The current petition to reinstate the tax exempt status may prevent completion of studies.
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid Loans is determined according to need and institutional cost of attendance (COA). The practicality of case-by-case COA is arguable.
The taxable status is configured into the FAFSA so that the stipend is not subtracted from the FAFSA award. Students often require supplemental loans for living expenses.
Tax exempt status ensures that the amount of the stipend is subtracted from the award - leaving those with full COA awards ineligible for necessary funding.
Please do not support the reinstatement of tax exempt status in lieu of a more comphrehensive request