WASHINGTON, DC (Kim Soffen and Denise Lu The Washington Post. Please Click to read the whole story here is an excerpt) On Thursday, the Trump administration released a preliminary 2018 budget proposal, which details many of the changes the president wants to make to the federal government’s spending. The proposal covers only discretionary, not mandatory, spending. To pay for an increase in defense spending, a down payment on the border wall and school voucher programs, among other things, funding was cut from the discretionary budgets of other executive departments and agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department and the Agriculture Department took the hardest hits. The proposal also eliminates funding for these 19 agencies.

WASHINGTON, DC – (Courtney Cruse – WSIL TV. Please click on the link to read the full story. Here is an excerpt.)  United States Congressman Mike Bost is hopes to reach constituents across the district later this week…over the phone. Representative Bost will hold a tele-town hall meeting Wednesday, March 15 at 6:15 P.M.

O’ FALLON, IL U.S Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced the opening of his new Metro East congressional office at 302 West State Street in O’Fallon.  The new location will provide more convenient access from I-64 for constituents traveling from across the Metro East region.

Casework and constituent outreach, which had been coordinated at Bost’s previous office location in Belleville, will be transferred to the O’Fallon location.  Bost also continues to manage an office in Carbondale, as well as satellite locations in Alton, Granite City, and Mount Vernon.

FERGUSON, MO – (St. Louis Post Dispatch – Staff Report. Click to read the full story. Here is an excerpt) An attorney representing Ferguson Market & Liquor said Sunday night that a video clip highlighted in a new documentary showed Michael Brown in the store early the morning before he was fatally shot by a police officer, but said that it had been edited. The attorney said the documentary falsely implied there was an exchange of marijuana for store merchandise. He pledged to release video of the interaction in full Monday. Word of the new video drew a group of protesters that grew to about 100 Sunday night. Eventually the market closed, and police cleared the parking lot.

Washington, DC – U.S Representative Mike Bost (R- Murphysboro) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s Executive Order regarding foreign entry into the United States:

 “The safety of the American people is the top priority of the federal government.  I appreciate the Administration’s use of more precise language regarding which individuals are covered by the travel pauses. I am hopeful that this additional clarity will help ensure that the United States government honors its most important obligation: to protect the American people.”

Press release from Congressman Mike Bost’s office (R- Murphysboro)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today unveiled bipartisan legislation, the VA Health Center Management Stability and Improvement Act, to address the growing problem of VA medical centers operating without permanent directors. Rep. Bost introduced the bill along with Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI).

“No business or organization can successfully operate under a revolving door of short-term leaders – especially not one tasked with caring for America’s heroes,” said Rep. Bost.  “At a time when restoring accountability and leadership at the VA is a primary focus, we can’t afford to continue operating in this haphazard way.  As a veteran myself, it’s my duty to do my part in providing the stability necessary to ensure our veterans receive the care they deserve.”

“It’s ridiculous that we have more than 20 VA medical centers without a permanent director across the country, including James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona,” said Congressman Bill Shuster. “It makes it difficult for these facilities to succeed when there is no permanent leadership, and I strongly support legislative efforts to require the VA to address this problem.”

More than 20 VA medical centers nationwide currently lack a permanent director. Some of these facilities have not been staffed by a permanent director in almost two years. In lieu of a permanent director, these facilities have been managed by interim directors who may only serve in that capacity for an average tenure of 120 days. Rep. Bost’s legislation would require the Secretary of the VA to report to Congress with a plan for addressing the shortage of permanent directors, a shortage that could hinder the ability to engage in long-term planning and other functions necessary to improve service delivery to our veterans.

The VA Health Center Management Stability and Improvement Act:

• Requires the Secretary of the VA to develop and submit to Congress a plan to hire highly-qualified medical directors for each medical center that lacks a permanent director within 120 days of enactment;
• Identifies possible impediments to staffing facilities with permanent directors; and
• Assesses the possibility of promoting and training qualified candidates from within the VA for promotion to Senior Executive Service positions.