Chairman Bost Slams Democrats for Government Shutdown Impact on Veterans, Servicemembers, Families

Chairman Bost Slams Democrats for Government Shutdown Impact on Veterans, Servicemembers, Families

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), appeared on Bloomberg's Balance of Power to discuss how Democrats are holding the government hostage by shutting down the government and impacting the delivery of vitally important support, services, and grant programs for veterans across the country. Chairman Bost underscored how mental health programs, homelessness support services, career counseling for transitioning servicemembers leaving the military, and nursing home care for disabled veterans is placed in limbo until Senate Democrats vote with Senate Republicans and end the chaos.

Click here to view Chairman Bost's full interview.

Excerpts from Chairman Bost's interview:

On the government shutdown impacting VA's extended services:

"You know, Joe, I think it's a case where we need to make sure that the Senate today makes the vote. Now, whether that happens or not, I don't know. But I know that every day the shutdown goes on, more pain is felt by more people. And as Chairman of the VA, I know when we are going to start seeing those shortfalls.

"You know, right now we have put a front load on most of the medical services and most veterans won't lose out on their main services, which is their health care. But when you start talking about the TAP program, that's people leaving the military, when you start talking about the Fox grants, those grants are special grants set up for non-VA providers and contractors to provide mental health.

"When you start talking about [nursing] home care workers, for those people that are homebound veterans, those are all on contract. We're trying to work with the Secretary at this time to make sure those keep going. But each day we go farther, that is, the more and more dangerous. Remember, we in the House. We've done our job. We sent the Senate a clean bill. There's those [Democrat] holdouts. They need to go ahead and open government.

"I'm looking down the road where veterans are. And let me let me tell you that right now, we are already operating without the ability of Congress to authorize those particular side contracts [and non-VA programs that are in the clean CR]. Everything Secretary Collins was talking about is the actual function of the VA, that is separate from VA's outside programs. And as we're moving forward, we're a little bit worried as those contracts will not have authorization [from Congress]."