Carbondale Reporter

U.S. Representative Mike Bost discussed a recent appointment by President Donald Trump in a Facebook post dated November 14. "Thrilled my good friend, former Georgia congressman Doug Collins, has been selected by President Trump to serve as VA Secretary," Bost said.

"Thrilled my good friend, former Georgia congressman Doug Collins, has been selected by President Trump to serve as VA Secretary," said Bost, U.S. Representative (IL-12), according to Facebook. "Can't wait to work together to serve the needs of America's veterans."

In the same post, Bost shared a screenshot of an announcement from President-elect Trump's transition team regarding Collins' selection. Trump wrote, "I am pleased to announce my intent to nominate former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as the United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA). Doug is a veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command and fought for our Country in the Iraq War. We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families, to ensure they have the support they need. Thank you Doug, for your willingness to serve our Country in this very important role!"

Screenshot of U.S. Rep Mike Bost's Nov. 14 Facebook post | U.S. Rep. Mike Bost's Facebook page

According to the Associated Press (AP), Collins is 58 years old and holds a master’s degree in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain for two years in the late 1980s and pastored a church for 11 years. Following the September 11 attacks, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a chaplain and was deployed to Balad Air Force Base in Iraq in 2008 for five months. Additionally, he is also a lawyer and served as a State Representative in Georgia for six years starting in 2008 before being elected to Congress in 2012.

Bost is currently serving as the representative for Illinois’ 12th District since January 6, 2015. He has two decades of experience in the Illinois State House of Representatives where he served as House Republican Caucus Chair. A lifelong resident of Murphysboro and former U.S. Marine Corps member from 1979-1982, Bost worked at Bost Trucking Service for 24 years before joining the Murphysboro Fire Department after graduating from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993.