my name is mark kantrowitz. in 1996, i developed a prototype of online soft for that led to the fact that ring made available on the web. since then, i provided public comment on draft fafsa every year, i wrote a best-selling book about the fafsa and several consumer facing website about financial aid. my mission is to deliver practical information advising tools to students and family so they can make smarter, more informed decisions about paying for college. i'm pleased to have the opportunity to share my insights with the committee today. the rollout of the 2024/25 fafsa plagued by delays, communication failures, frustrating and impossible process for students, families, colleges, scholarship providers. numerous missed implementation deadlines, long delays, broken promises, clogged call centers, and i.t. errors. there has been lack of transparency with the challenges and delays portrayed in overly optimistic fashion. the goal of fafsa's implication was to make it easier for students and families to file the f