Mike Bost

I really urge the committee to look at this issue.

This is why we are talking about the health and quality of our waterways today.

In Michigan we are the Great Lakes State, and ensuring that our waters are clean to drink, to swim in, to fish, is a major priority.

I urge the committee to include Brandon Road's expanded authorization, including this cost-share waiver, in WRDA.

Just so you know, I served as a professional firefighter, as a union firefighter for many years, and I was trained at one of the best schools in the Nation, the Illinois Firefighters Academy.

We can not be putting our heads in the sand and ignoring it. We need to deal with it, whether it is male or female, and we need to get it done and done correctly.

The Trump Organization wants to get out of the lease.

This ongoing deepening and widening project will increase jobs, our annual GDP, and provide billions in increased tax revenues.

We just need to find the political courage to spend it.

My district is home to several critical Civil Works projects of great economic benefit to the country.

This, too, will likely be dealt with as commonsense legislation, making sure that the grants are delivered and that the proper amount of grants are delivered to make sure proper safety occurs not only in the fishing industry, but we should…

Obviously, from the conversations we have had here today, this is commonsense legislation. You know, we have banned smoking and also know the problems we faced this last year with e-cigarettes, the reasons and concerns that are out there…

I am prepared to close. Madam Speaker, as has been testified today from both sides of the aisle, both of these programs are vitally important. We believe this legislation would move forward in making sure that both veterans and the blind…

We want this done right. We want--it has been too long.

Passing the Blue Water Navy Act was the right thing to do for our Nation's veterans.

This law extended the presumption of exposure to the Blue Water Navy veterans.

Yes. We want to make sure you get it right because--and this is me speaking, just because I have been here 5 years and there has been many a thing that has come before us, not only on this committee, but on different committees that I…

I am especially focused on VA's plan to analyze deck logs that will allow the Department to determine which veterans served in the offshore waters of Vietnam.

We are committed to ensuring that VA does not wrongfully deny these veterans the benefits they have earned.

Recognizing that the intent is one thing, but we are talking about a law.

When we were talking earlier, and I think this is a very large concern because I think all of us see the problem and really want to deal with it as well as the VA themselves.

Yes, I think everybody is. I hope that we move as fast as possible, but make sure that we are secure as possible.

This legislation was prompted by VA's attempt in three different cemeteries to remove the memorial.

Isn't it true the VA can change that policy at any time to prohibit those monuments?

The bottom line is we have got to take care of our veterans, they have given us the liberties and freedoms we have.