SUN EDITORIAL:

A welcome trend

Federal agencies are developing new programs to benefit veterans

Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

After years of bad news about how a lack of planning on the part of the federal government led to health care and administrative nightmares for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, some good news is emerging.

A Small Business Administration program begun 14 months ago is an example. Known as Patriot Express, it provides low-interest loans to veterans who are starting or expanding a small business. More than 1,850 such loans, averaging $98,000 apiece, have been granted.

Altogether, the SBA provides about $1 billion a year in loans to veterans, but Patriot Express was started with recent veterans in mind. After applications received bank approval, most of the “express” loans granted to date have been approved by the SBA within 24 hours.

Another program, started last week by the Labor Department, will give employers and prospective employers of returning war veterans valuable information. The goal is to ease any concerns they might have about retaining or hiring the veterans.

Employers may log on to a Web site (www.americasheroesatwork.gov) or call a toll-free number (800-526-7234) to learn how to manage such (often short-term) veterans’ issues as depression, flashbacks, irritability, headaches and memory loss. Employers will learn, for example, that scheduled rest breaks for veterans can make a big difference.

Other initiatives have recently begun. Under the housing bill signed in July by President Bush, VA loans will no longer be restricted to houses valued at less than $417,000 — the ceiling was raised to $729,000. Also under the bill, primary grants for adapting a home to meet the needs of veterans with service-connected disabilities will rise from $50,000 to $60,000.

Through their sacrifices, veterans have earned these types of programs and we hope this trend continues.