Thousands of young men and women have received a higher education through the GI Bill; all paid for by the taxpayers; the Federal Government. Today's studen loan program is successfully continuing that trend toward a higher education for those who want to improve their lives. The difference in the two bills is, who pays for this? You are saying, and right now statistics are proving you right, that a large percentage of students loans' have fallen into default. In my opinion, this statistic is a direct result of the 'students' that are participating; some have integrity,others do not. Does that make the student loan program a failure? I submit that it does not. In the end the taxpayers will be supporting the program but at a far lower expense than was spent on the GI Bill. What is the percentage of student loans that have been paid or are being paid? What are the total costs for each program? That will be the final answer. If this country is to compete in a world economy, our educational standing must be improved; we as a nation are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to scholastic abilities.