In 1989 and 1990 the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to standing committees in the U.S. Congress identified and explored issues for consideration in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and Title IV programs. Through 18 months of information gathering the Committee uncovered three problem areas. The first problem is that federal efforts to promote equal access to postsecondary education have stalled. For example, participation rates for minorities are 10 percent lower than rates for whites though those rates were nearly equal in 1976. In addition, the delivery system and application process have remained complex and serve as a significant barrier to access, particularly for at-risk populations. Finally, the ability of the Department of Education to acquire, access, and analyze data about important issues facing the Title IV programs was found to have deteriorated. The Committee recommended a series of initiatives to address the problems described including redefining equal access goals, implementing new initiatives to equalize access, revitalizing federal research and outreach efforts, integrating need analysis models, simplifying application and reapplication, promoting full implementation of free federal delivery, and fine-tuning federal need analysis as well as identifying critical issues for further study. The text includes three figures and a list of the members and staff of the Advisory Committee. (JB)