Metro East Sun

U.S. Representative Mike Bost announced the passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole Veterans Bill, highlighting its potential benefits for veterans. This announcement was made in a Facebook post on December 16.

"Pleased to announce that the House has passed the Senator Elizabeth Dole Veterans bill, legislation I've worked on with my colleagues on the committee for many months," said Bost, according to Facebook. "It now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. This bill is a huge step forward in enhancing mental health services for veterans, strengthening caregiver support, expanding job opportunities, improving community care programs, and providing pathways out of homelessness. Most importantly, it ensures that veterans are at the heart of the VA care system."

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act was considered unfinished business as of November 18 at 6:30 p.m. However, by 6:55 p.m., a motion to reconsider was proposed and agreed upon. The bill subsequently moved to the Senate on November 19 after being initially introduced on May 14, 2024. The legislation includes provisions for care agreements between veterans and clinicians, increases in expenditure caps for non-institutional alternatives to nursing home care, support for family caregivers under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, and removes the expiration of a surviving spouse’s entitlement under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.

Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Dec. 16 Facebook post | U.S. Rep Mike Bost's Facebook page

According to a press release from the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Chairman Bost said: "There is no better way to close out the Congress than to pass a good bill for veterans and their families. I am so proud of the changes the Dole Act will bring to VA to modernize, improve, and reshape the delivery of care and benefits." Bost emphasized that "we worked hard to craft this legislation to put veterans – not government bureaucracy – at the core of it." He added that "the Dole Act will do that by expanding economic opportunities, simplifying the disability claims process, reforming services for aging veterans, opening more doors for mental health support, and a lot more." The bill now awaits President Joe Biden's signature.

Bost has been serving as the representative for Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. With two decades of experience in the Illinois State House of Representatives where he served as House Republican Caucus Chair, Bost is also a lifelong resident of Murphysboro and former U.S. Marine Corps member from 1979-1982. Before his political career, he worked at Bost Trucking Service as a driver and truck manager for 24 years and later joined the Murphysboro Fire Department after graduating from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.