Mike Bost

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I am glad that was brought up, the claim that the bureaucrats do not do this. It is only the bureaucrats that recommend to the NICS list, and then the Department of Justice does this. They take away a right of a veteran where any other citizen in this United States would have to go before a court of law where they would be found to be a danger to themselves or others. Yet, our VA, under the interpretation that they have made of an existing law, has decided that they will have a bureaucrat, without due process, take away the rights of our veterans. It is as simple as that. When I came here to this House, I found this out. As a veteran, I was appalled. What bothers me more than anything is the number of veterans across the central part of this United States who choose not to seek VA help for the fear that they would lose that Second Amendment right. They fought for that right and every other right under this Constitution. This needs to be straightened out. It is not gun control. It is not any issue like that. This is a veterans rights issue. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Chair, I will answer two quick questions. The fact is that, no, the VA employee does not take the Second Amendment right and possess the guns. The Department of Justice does. They give the name to the Department of Justice. Two, when the statement was made that I have a bill to try to deal with this, the ranking member was totally correct. I do because I am going to do everything I can to make sure that the rights of our veterans are not taken away. It is time for us to stand up for our veterans and protect the constitutional rights that they fought to protect. No veteran should lose their Second Amendment right without due process of law. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment. I have serious concerns about the existing congestion and limited resources at DCA at this time. An additional 14 flights--7 slots, but 14 flights--certainly stretch resources even further. Over the last 16 months, DCA has had the fifth most ground delay and stop counts in the country. The runway at DCA is also the busiest runway in the entire country. I understand wanting additional flights to DCA, but I am concerned that the amount of space and time in the day is limited. I have serious concerns about how it will negatively affect my constituents. Finally, I also am disappointed that there is no requirement that, before any additional flights, the Secretary must certify that they wouldn't reduce services to small and medium hub airports, strain the current landside and airside capacity at Reagan National Airport, and, as a result, increase travel time. Mr. Chair, I stand in opposition.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in a family trucking business, a company that I worked with for years, and I spent my years driving over the road. I knew the challenges our truck drivers faced: Time pressures, lack of sleep, and nowhere to stop for the night. When I came to Congress, I joined the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and made it a top priority to expand access for safe truck parking. Now, I knew we had a threat to public safety when exhausted truck drivers pushed that extra mile just to end up sleeping on the highway shoulder on an off-ramp because there is not enough space in our rest areas. Critics who didn't understand the issue said it wasn't a priority, and they asked why they should care. Well, early yesterday morning, a Greyhound bus traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis veered into the shoulder of an off-ramp in Madison County, Illinois. Parked on the off-ramp were three tractor trailers and the drivers resting inside. Three passengers on the bus were killed. Over a dozen were injured. It is a tragedy that didn't have to happen. I have introduced legislation to direct existing Federal funding to build more truck parking spaces. I am hopeful that we get the Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act signed into law. Let's act before we have another tragedy. My prayers are with the families and the victims of this accident.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Stotlar Pharmacy of Pinckneyville, Illinois, for its over 90 years of service to Perry County residents. This is a true American success story: a family owned and operated small business in the heart of one of the region's best small cities. Stotlar Pharmacy was founded in 1932 by Joe Stotlar. At the time of its founding, the Stotlar Pharmacy not only filled prescriptions, but had a soda fountain, sold toiletries, gifts, film, cameras, similar to what many would consider an ``old time'' drug store. In the 1960s, the pharmacy saw many changes, which included moving across the street from their original location, and now offering pharmacy services, delivery, and a gift shop. Joe Stotlar's sons, Jim and Gene, were physicians with offices close by as they assisted in overseeing the store after their father. The family tradition continues today with Joe's grandchildren: Bill, Barbara, Tom, and Rich. His grandchildren are now serving as the proud owners and managers of Stotlar Pharmacy. Joe's family remembers him as a very good businessman who was willing to help out anyone in their time of need. With all the Stotlar family has given to our community, I am proud to now give them the recognition they deserve. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the Stotlar Pharmacy for all they do to keep Southern Illinoisans happy and healthy. We are fortunate to have such strong family businesses in Southern Illinois, something that should inspire the next generation of community leaders to come.

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. 30.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 30. This bill would authorize VA major medical facility construction projects in California, New York, Texas, Montana, Kentucky, and Oregon. As chairman, I have committed time and time again to provide the necessary funding that ensures our Nation's veterans receive the quality care they deserve. It is well known that the VA healthcare system has serious infrastructure issues and needs critical renovations. Authorizing these projects will help the thousands of veterans who live in these six States have better access to care in modern settings. I appreciate Senator Tester and Senator Moran for their work introducing this important bill. I also thank Representative Chavez- DeRemer for introducing a similar bill in the House. It has my full support today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 30) to authorize major medical facility projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes.

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

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 H.R. 3672.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3672, a bill to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic.'' Justin Paton was born on July Fourth, 1982, in Emmet County, Michigan. He joined the U.S. Army in 2005 and deployed to Iraq in October 2006, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division based out of Fort Hood, Texas. While deployed to Iraq in 2007, his unit came in contact with the enemy just north of Baghdad, with small arms fire being exchanged. While in this firefight, Private First Class Paton was hit by an Iraqi sniper and did not survive his wounds. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He bravely answered the Nation's call when it came, like many others before him and so many after. Naming the VA clinic in his hometown, which he so loved, is an honor that would be a fitting remembrance of Private First Class Paton's life and sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3672, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3672) to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indian River, Michigan, as the ``Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''.

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

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman), the sponsor of this legislation and also a very good friend.

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

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, one thing that needs to be very, very clear, the Bergman bill does not have a TEF issue, a toxic exposure fund issue. That is where the concerns are. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I am going to say a couple of things that I have said on this House floor before. I am going to say them again. The gentleman referred to our cutting veterans. Actually, we are increasing over the President's budget. We will get more into that later this week in committee. Let me also say this, Mr. Speaker. I will repeat my plea right now that our friends on the other side of the aisle join me in developing a solution to an issue that he has decided is not anything more than a political ploy, trying to say that we are going to cut benefits by straightening this problem out. We are not. We will not. Let me say this again on this floor: Veterans are not being cut, period. This is a good piece of legislation. It is bipartisan. Mr. Speaker, I encourage all the people on our side of the aisle and on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I also encourage all of our Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Luttrell), who is the sponsor of the bill.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 777. I appreciate Senator Tester and Senator Moran for their leadership on this important bill. I also thank Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chairman Luttrell and Ranking Member Pappas for leading the House companion to S. 777. Our bipartisan collaboration on this legislation each year is vitally important. The Veterans' COLA Act of 2023 would increase the rates of compensation for our veterans and their survivors to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living. Many veterans fought for our country and came back with visible and invisible injuries. Their disability compensation benefits provide financial security for service-disabled veterans and their families. Mr. Speaker, veterans should not have to worry whether their earned benefits can cover their basic needs. They should not have to choose between gas to get to work or groceries for their family. However, unfortunately, because of the Biden inflation problem that has occurred because of out-of-control spending, this is a reality for thousands of veterans' families. The least we can do for them is to provide a cost-of-living adjustment this year so they can continue to pay their bills and put food on their tables. I am proud to support this bill today, and I hope all my colleagues will join me in sending this bill to the President's desk. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 777.

Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 777) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2023, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.