Chicago (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin
says veterans attending public colleges shouldn't be burdened with out-of-state
tuition and fees.
The Democratic senator is working with lawmakers to fix an unintended
consequence of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
The bill provides up to $18,000 for veterans attending private colleges.
It limits the benefit for veterans at public colleges to the amount charged for
in-state tuition and fees.
In a press release, Durbin's office says many veterans are having
trouble establishing residency and qualifying for in-state tuition. More than
20,000 veterans have had to pay the difference between in-state and
out-of-state tuition out of their pockets. Durbin says those costs can be
dramatic.
He says there's an "easy fix." His proposed legislation would
provide money to help cover out-of-state tuition at public universities.
