Mike Bost

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 2513.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8976, to rename the post office in Millstadt, Illinois, in honor of a fallen hero, Corporal Matthew Wyatt. Matt was a marine, serving in Iraq's Al Anbar Province when a suicide bomber approached his base in a truck loaded with explosives. Matt and another marine quickly took action to attempt to block the breach, but the explosion killed both servicemen instantly. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of their passing. Now, despite the passage of time, it is a mile marker that I am sure gets no easier for his loved ones left behind. It is a pain many of us could not imagine. Matt had something special. He had something he couldn't learn by watching television or even being taught in a classroom. He was instilled with a commitment to his country that is really tough to find today. Now, I spoke about Matt's background when I introduced this legislation in the spring, but it is important for me to share it again. Military service was in Matt's blood. It came from his father, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Alan Wyatt, and two grandfathers, one Army and one Navy. When his mother, Verlene, asked if he was willing to go to war, without hesitation Matt said yes. His bravery in battle earned him the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. His commanding officer personally traveled to Millstadt to present the family with his medals. Though we mourn a precious life cut short, we honor a legacy that runs long. This is a small and meaningful tribute to a small-town southern Illinoisan who made a big difference for his country. I am proud today that the people's House is taking the opportunity to honor him. I encourage all of my colleagues here to support this bill and pass H.R. 8976 in honor of Corporal Matthew Wyatt of Millstadt, Illinois. Semper fi, marine. Oorah.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, may I inquire of the Chair as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the Representative from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon).

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. I offer a very special thank-you to the ranking member, the staff who have been involved in the negotiations back and forth, the Senate, all of our VSOs that came out--as I said in my opening, there were over 50--in support of this bill, and for the hard work and pushing forward that Senator Elizabeth Dole has done on this bill. We are so glad that we can call it up tonight. Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 8371, as amended, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird).

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell).

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8371) to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 8371, as amended.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks).

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8371, as amended, offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), my friend and colleague. For nearly the entire 118th Congress, the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have worked together to develop a bipartisan package of commonsense proposals. The Dole act is the result of that work and would enhance, reform, and modernize nearly every part of the VA. Specifically, the Dole act would change the landscape for elderly veterans and finally give them a choice in where they choose to live out their sunset years; reform VA's homeless programs to embrace data and help lift veterans out of homelessness permanently; expand nontraditional education and employment programs, like VET TEC, to allow even more students to receive the training they need to land high-paying tech jobs; protect the MISSION Act to ensure that veterans have access to the timely healthcare they want and where they want it; cut red tape for schools to allow students using the GI Bill to use their benefits; and so much more. Simply put, the Dole act would help deliver on the promises we have made to the veterans and their families. Madam Speaker, some of the provisions in the Dole act would, quite literally, save veterans' lives. Since COVID, homeless prevention providers haven't been able to keep pace with rising costs and help as many veterans as they would like. The Dole act would fix that. Veterans across the country are having their healthcare restricted by VA bureaucracy, who think they get to decide where veterans should get their healthcare. The Dole act would fix that. The Dole act would rightfully make sure that a VA bureaucrat cannot veto a doctor's medical decisions. Under current law, veterans' caregivers have limited options on where they can get mental health support services. The Dole act would not only fix that but would expand where they can reach these services. Right now, only veterans who pass away at a VA facility are allowed burial or funeral allowances. The Dole act will fix that. Madam Speaker, there are a lot of good things in this bill, and it is past time for us to send it to the President's desk before it is too late. I thank the over 50 veterans service organizations, advocacy organizations, and stakeholders from every corner of this country for their support of the Dole act. Their advocacy and work in collaborating with the House and the Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs has finally brought this bill to the finish line. I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record two letters of support from these organizations.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage Members to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7653 offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis). Madam Speaker, the VERY Act would strike the term ``employment handicap'' from the law that authorizes the Veteran Readiness and Employment program and replace it with the term ``employment barrier.'' This term is used in the law to describe participants who are eligible and entitled to receive benefits and services. The bill is a simple fix that would remove a negative view of the term ``handicap'' and replace it with a more positive word. This Congress, VA has made significant mistakes that have damaged their relationship with veterans, and it is our job as Congress to help VA rebuild trust with our veterans. While the new Trump administration has many issues to fix that were created by the current administration, this change is a step in the right direction. This Congress, the Republican majority has worked hard to improve the VR&E program. Now, we have put the VA's feet to the fire to ensure that veterans are put first when using the VR&E program. Representative Davis' bill takes a step in the right direction to do exactly that. We must continue to break down barriers to level the playing field for veterans seeking employment. I thank the VFW and the DAV for supporting this bill. I also recognize the work of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7653. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2181, as amended. This bill was introduced by Senator Peters. My colleagues, Representative James and Representative Reschenthaler, introduced companion bills. This bill would ensure that veterans can be laid to rest and mourned together with their spouses and children. Under current law, VA can inter certain family members together with their veteran loved one in a VA national cemetery only if those family members passed away before September 30, 2025. VA can provide headstones or markers for certain family members whose remains are unavailable for burial only if they passed away before September 30, 2025. S. 2181, as amended, would extend those date limitations. As a veteran myself, this is a deeply personal issue to me. We must ensure that veterans and their families have the option of being laid to rest together. Therefore, Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 2181, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2181) to amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the sunset on entitlement to memorial headstones and markers for commemoration of veterans and certain individuals and to repeal the sunset on authority to bury remains of certain spouses and children in national cemeteries, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3126. This bill was introduced by Senator Braun. I thank my friend, Representative Luttrell, who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for leading the House companion bill to this important bill. The Mark Our Place Act would ensure that every Medal of Honor recipient is properly honored where they have been laid to rest. Under current law, only Medal of Honor recipients who served on or after April 6, 1917, can receive a headstone, grave marker, or medallion that reflects the Medal of Honor status. S. 3126 would remove that unjust date limitation. It should go without saying that every Medal of Honor recipient's story of service should be displayed on their headstone should their family wish to do so. The Medal of Honor is our Nation's highest military award. It is reserved for servicemembers who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice in combat. Over 2,000 servicemembers were awarded Medals of Honor before April 6, 1917, and this bill would ensure that they are all recognized for their bravery. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 3126, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 3126.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers. Madam Speaker, I encourage Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell), who is my good friend and the chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.