A fair and generous benefit

'VETERANS GROUP raises questions about G.I. Bill' (front page, Feb. 23) misstated the position of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America by implying that IAVA is seeking a reduction in the value of the benefit.

There is already a cap on the benefits available under the new bill, a cap that varies wildly by state. IAVA supports a fairer, national ceiling that would increase the benefit for many veterans who want to attend private colleges or universities, and would have no effect on anyone attending a public school. Ideally, there would be no cap. But if there is, it should be fair and generous.

The new G.I. Bill is intended to give every veteran access to an affordable college education, but Veterans Affairs' recent regulations have made the benefits system confusing and unfair. Right now, a veteran attending a private school in Arkansas might end up tens of thousands of dollars in debt, while a veteran across the border in Texas, with identical tuition costs, gets his school paid for. Under the VA's patchwork system of tuition and fee benefits, veterans will not be able to make educated decisions about the costs of attending school.

IAVA has recommended a simpler system that would increase benefits for thousands of students attending private school, leave the benefits to public school students unchanged and dramatically improve the benefit's overall fairness.

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