The Bost Bulletin Dear Friend,
It was a very busy district work week for me here in Southern Illinois, but there was no visit that meant more to me than meeting with the family of Captain Eleanor “Ellie” LeBeau Cooke in Belleville. Ellie passed away late last year in an MV-22B Osprey crash during a training mission in Australia, leaving behind a shocked and saddened family and community. In the days after, I took to the House floor to honor her legacy. This week I visited with the family to present the Congressional Record to her parents, David and Victoria. Ellie, who received the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, will be greatly missed by the community she dedicated her life to protect. Semper Fi, Marine. 
Honoring Gold Star Spouses Day Friday was Gold Star Spouses Day, a day to recognize and honor the spouses of military members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. Through shared experiences, Gold Star Spouses and Families form a community of support and understanding, and our grateful nation stands with them, offering support, gratitude, and remembrance. 
Visiting MidAmerica Airport I visited the MidAmerica Airport to speak with local officials, including St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern and Airport Director Darren James, about recent expansion projects. It was great to get an update on all the hard work being put into expanding operations at the airport and consider ways to continue fostering growth in tourism here in Southern Illinois. 
Meeting with the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council I met with members of the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council in Freeburg, where we discussed apprenticeship programs and other ways to grow participation in the building trades. With steady hands, these skilled craftsmen have, quite literally, built our communities and our businesses. It was great to discuss how we can continue feeding a pipeline of talented men and women into the industry so that it will remain strong for years to come. 
Catching Up on Aquaculture in Carbondale I visited the Big House Fish Farm in Carbondale to discuss crop insurance, emergency disaster relief, and the cost input in aquaculture. We had some useful discussions about the challenges that fish farmers face in our area, and ways we can continue working together to support this industry. 
Checking in on Shawnee Forest I met with Shawnee Forest’s District Ranger Dennis William and Forest Supervisor Mike Chaveas last week. I’ve recently introduced the Shawnee TRAILS Act to allow for e-bikes and ATVs on certain trails, and we had a constructive discussion about how local and federal governments can work together to ensure those trails are protected and maintained. 
Meeting with Rice Farmers in Southern Illinois Southern Illinois is home to some of the most diverse agriculture in the state. A great example of that diversity is the rice grown in Cahokia. I spoke with Blake Gerard of River Bend Farms, the first to farm rice in Illinois, about the unique challenges facing this growing industry. 
Speaking with Turkey Farmers I joined the White County Farm Bureau for a tour of the Chase Curd Turkey Farm last week. Over the last few years, poultry farmers have been battling a highly contagious avian influenza. I’m proud of the work I’ve done on the Agriculture Committee to ensure funding for animal health and disease prevention will be increased to protect this important industry. 
Discussing the Farm Bill with Family Farmers I visited the Lakey Creek Farm in McLeansboro and the Bernard Family Farm in Bonnie this week. It was a pleasure touring these family farms, learning more about their production processes, and discussing priorities in the upcoming Farm Bill! 
Visiting Davita Dialysis in Effingham I visited Davita Dialysis in Effingham this week. It was a pleasure getting a tour from facility administrator Leigh Hammer, thank you for sharing the challenges dialysis patients face and how providers are giving care during a nursing shortage. 
Walking Through Log Cabin Village Kinmundy Mayor Angela Diss gave me a wonderful tour of the historic Log Cabin Village this week. In the 1950s, Erma Ingram started acquiring log cabins from the surrounding area when the structures from the 1800s began rapidly vanishing. These historic cabins are still on display today, and they will be hosting a 3 day festival for the upcoming solar eclipse. Southern Illinois is full of rich history, thank you for the tour Mayor Diss! 
Visiting Flex N Gate I toured Flex n Gate with local community leaders this week, which is a leading manufacturer and supplier of large stamped metal and welded components, assemblies, and plastic parts in the automotive industry. It was great to see Effingham Board County Chairman Josh Douthit for the tour! 
To stay updated on the work I am doing, make sure you follow me on Facebook or . And if you would like to receive these email updates, make sure you sign up for my newsletter . - Mike | 
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