Metro East Sun

Rep. Mike Bost, who represents Illinois’ 12th district in the U.S. Congress, announced legislative and funding initiatives in a series of tweets on July 23, 2025.

In his first post, Bost addressed issues facing rural postal services: "Today I reintroduced the Upending Secret Postal Shutdowns (USPS) Act to bring transparency and accountability for sudden post office closures. Rural communities, in particular, are often left in the dark when a local post office is “temporarily” shut down, with no timeline or" (July 23, 2025). The statement highlights concerns about communication and clarity when local postal facilities close unexpectedly.

Later that day, Bost shared news regarding federal investment in veterans' healthcare infrastructure: "Happy to announce today that the Department of Veterans Affairs will fund an additional $800 million in infrastructure upgrades this year, including improvements to the Marion VA Medical Center and the John Cochran and Jefferson Barracks facilities in St. Louis. Southern Illinois" (July 23, 2025). This announcement underscores planned improvements at multiple medical centers serving veterans in southern Illinois and neighboring Missouri.

A third tweet contained only a link: "https://t.co/wbfZw1feAR" (July 23, 2025), but provided no further context within the message itself.

Bost has represented Illinois’s 12th District since 2015 after succeeding Gerald Hawkins. Before his tenure in Congress, he served two decades in the Illinois House of Representatives and previously held a position on the Jackson County Board from 1984 to 1988. Born and residing in Murphysboro, Illinois since his birth in 1960, Bost also completed firefighter training at the University of Illinois' Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.