Mike Bost

I spoke to a graduate student at the University of Central Florida, and I asked, what does this program mean to you? And he looked at me with tears in his eyes, and he said, I was able to bring my veteran back to life.

That is wonderful because it has an unbelievable potential, and I know you will do well with that.

Ensuring that those who have selflessly raised their right hand in defense of the Nation receive the honorable and respectable final resting place they deserve is the priority of The American Legion.

Thank you for taking the time to be here today.

On May 25, we celebrate National Poppy Day. After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists said the growth was because the soil in France and Belgium became enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt…

There are times when we are called upon to simply do the right thing. I hope any colleagues will consider the Stop Underrides Act and help end needless preventable deaths.

The leadership of the VISN 15, though, does not seem to be adequately addressing my concerns about the morale at Marion.

Do you not see with the amount of employees that you have that some of them might all of a sudden say, 'Okay, if I just do a bad job here, they will move me somewhere else?'

Where is the accountability? At what point do start looking at your employees and when they fail at a job, do we not--we either get rid of them or we demote them.

In 2008, several congressional Members sent a letter to then VA Secretary James Peake, expressing their concerns about an appointment of Dr. Peter Almenoff.

I have got a statement here and, Dr. Clancy, I want to see where you think this should go.

Mr. Lamb, do you have other questions?

I look forward to working with him when he officially joins us on the Subcommittee.

Good afternoon and welcome everyone. The hearing for the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs will now come to order.

Today I proudly honor the Murphysboro Middle School Blue Devils Girls volleyball team for winning the Class L State Championship for the second straight year. Along the way, the team also captured their eighth consecutive Junior Southwest…

Today I proudly honor the Belleville West basketball team for winning the 2018 4A State tournament. It was truly a ``March Madness'' in Peoria, Illinois, this weekend as the Maroons played in a back-and-forth State title game against…

We hope that both men will be able to join us in August for the dedication ceremony in Hawaii.

It is essential that we pass this bill to ensure that veterans can keep up with the inflation to maintain their standard of living and receive the benefits they have earned.

I am proud to say that last year's COLA, which I also introduced with Ms. Este, went into effect December 1st, 2017.

We would like to see this move as fast as possible.

I don't see that you are--you are not breaking even with the numbers the way they look.

If caring for and compensating veterans is truly our Nation's priority, then finding the necessary means to pay for it should also be a priority.

I believe that the VA must be one of our Nation's top priorities.

Since 2006, the VA's budget has grown 175 percent, while overall Federal spending increased 54 percent and the GDP grew by only 40 percent.

The president is asking for almost $200 billion for VA, which is an increase of about $12 billion over last year.