Carbondale Reporter

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) applauded the House passage of legislation fully funding veterans’ programs and military construction for the next fiscal year. The bill included several key priorities Bost secured to improve the delivery of care and services at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"I am proud to have helped pass legislation that fully funds veterans’ programs, protects veterans’ Second Amendment rights, and stops taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions from the VA," said Bost. "The bill includes important reforms I fought for to expand mental health options for veterans struggling with PTSD and challenges; protect veterans' Second Amendment rights; and ensure that veterans in rural areas have access to emergency transportation services. These are big wins for those who sacrificed so much in defense of our freedoms."

Bost’s key priorities in the bill include:

- An amendment requiring the VA to apply the same access standards for Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP) as for primary care, specialty care, and non-institutional extended care services.

- Protecting veterans’ Second Amendment rights by prohibiting the VA from submitting a veteran or beneficiary’s name to the FBI’s NICS list without a judge’s consent simply because they require a fiduciary to help manage their finances.

- Prohibiting the VA from cutting reimbursements for private ground and air ambulatory emergency transportation services.

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