Metro East Sun

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.) criticized Senate Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, arguing that it disrupts key support and services for veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Speaking on Bloomberg’s Balance of Power, Bost said the shutdown places programs such as mental health support, homelessness services, career counseling for transitioning servicemembers, and nursing home care for disabled veterans in jeopardy until Senate Democrats agree with Republicans to end the impasse.

“You know, Joe, I think it's a case where we need to make sure that the Senate today makes the vote. Now, whether that happens or not, I don't know. But I know that every day the shutdown goes on, more pain is felt by more people. And as Chairman of the VA, I know when we are going to start seeing those shortfalls," Bost stated.

He noted that while most medical services remain funded in the short term and most veterans will not lose their main health care services immediately, other areas are at risk. “But when you start talking about the TAP program, that’s people leaving the military, when you start talking about the Fox grants, those grants are special grants set up for non-VA providers and contractors to provide mental health,” he said.

Bost also raised concerns about nursing home care workers who serve homebound veterans through contracted services. He said efforts are underway with Secretary Collins to maintain these services but warned of increasing risk if the shutdown continues. “But each day we go farther, that is, the more and more dangerous. Remember, we in the House. We've done our job. We sent the Senate a clean bill. There's those [Democrat] holdouts. They need to go ahead and open government," he added.

He emphasized uncertainty over future authorization for contracts supporting non-VA programs: “I'm looking down the road where veterans are. And let me let me tell you that right now, we are already operating without the ability of Congress to authorize those particular side contracts [and non-VA programs that are in the clean CR]. Everything Secretary Collins was talking about is the actual function of the VA, that is separate from VA’s outside programs. And as we're moving forward, we're a little bit worried as those contracts will not have authorization [from Congress]."

Mike Bost has served multiple terms in Congress representing Illinois's 12th district after winning elections in 2014 against William L. Enyart (52.5% to 41.9%), 2016 against Charles Baricevic (54.3% to 39.7%), 2018 against Brendan Kelly (51.6% to 45.4%), 2020 against Raymond Lenzi (60.4% to 39.7%), and most recently in 2022 against Chip Markel with a significant margin (75% to 25%).