The Bost Bulletin Dear Friend,
It was an action-packed week in Washington, and I’m not just referring to presidential developments or congressional votes. At the U.S. Supreme Court, justices wrapped up their term, with some important decisions being announced a couple of days ago. For example, the Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States affirmed that political weaponization of the justice system must not stand. And in it’s Chevron ruling, the Court determined that activist federal agencies cannot subvert congressional authority. Stay tuned tomorrow when the Court is expected to announce its decision on presidential immunity.
Meeting the Needs of Our Military Each year, Congress drafts a new National Defense Authorization Act setting DoD budgets and policies for the next fiscal year. It’s a big deal for our military installations like Scott Air Force Base and the surrounding communities. I'm pleased to share that Congress passed an NDAA that supports our mission at Scott Air Force Base and restores the focus on readiness over wokeism.
We secured across the board pay increases for servicemembers, including an especially important and deserved increase for junior enlisted members. Military housing will be improved through better maintenance and improved transparency for service requests. There will be new housing options and increased renovations to existing housing. Conservatives are also fighting to end Joe Biden’s woke nonsense in the military and putting the focus back on lethality, deterrence and defense, innovation, and readiness. And we help keep Americans safe by fully funding a National Guard deployment at our borders.
Demanding a Review of Chinese Acquisition of Cahokia Grain Terminal China is attempting to buy up America's commercial infrastructure and farmland at a breakneck pace, and that will have a big impact on our economy and national security. Recently, the Cahokia grain terminal was acquired by COFCO International Ltd, a Chinese state-run company. I partnered with my Southern Illinois colleague, Rep. Budzinski, to urge the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) to conduct an immediate review of the transfer. Federal officials need to understand how this will impact the safety and security of the American people, especially here in Southern Illinois. 
Securing Key Wins for Southern Illinois' Infrastructure As Southern Illinois’ voice on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud to let you know the committee passed the Water Resources Development Act today with several key wins for our district. I fought to strengthen our levees, locks, and dams; reduce the risk of damage from natural disasters; and cut through the red tape that burdens taxpayers and slows project delivery. You can learn more about the wins I secured by visiting my website or clicking here.
Highlighting the Latest Example of Biden's Border Failure The Biden administration recently released more than 400 illegal immigrants with ties to ISIS into our country, putting our national security at risk. Fifty of these “subjects of concern” remain unaccounted for. This administration is a disaster on border security.
Adding Up the Cost of Government Inefficiency Federal resources need to be there for families who truly need help. But when there are costly distribution errors for a program like SNAP, it squanders taxpayer resources and makes it harder to get help to disadvantaged people who are doing the right thing and trying to get back on their feet. The Food and Nutrition Service published today the SNAP payment error rates for 2023, and it’s staggering. In Illinois alone, there’s nearly a 10% error rate, costing taxpayers more than $435 MILLION dollars. Nationally, it’s $10.7 BILLION. That’s why I cosponsored and fought to include the “Snap Back Inaccurate SNAP Payments Act” in the Farm Bill. We need to clean up this bureaucratic mess.
Looking at the Burden of Bidenomics Since Joe Biden took office, consumer prices have skyrocketed by 20.1%. Prices are climbing faster than wages, making it difficult for working families to keep up. Homeownership, once a cornerstone of the American Dream, is now out of reach for many Americans. Costs are higher for food, transportation, electricity, rent, entertainment, and more. Conservatives are fighting to put America First, control inflation, and limit government spending – the only way we’ll get out of this mess.
Celebrating a Victory for Life, Two Years Later Last week marked the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s monumental Dobbs decision, empowering states to protect lives of the unborn. Since then, more than 200,000 children a year have been saved. 
Standing with Israel In my meeting last week with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, I reaffirmed U.S. support for our closest ally in the Middle East. We must be steadfast in our fight for freedom and make sure that available resources are directed to protecting America’s national security interests and stopping terrorism. 
Meeting with our First Place Congressional Art Competition Winner I had the pleasure of meeting with Olivia Spour, our first place winner in the Congressional Art Competition. TheTeutopolis High School student’s artwork, titled “Life of a Child,” will be on display in the halls of the U.S. Capitol for the next year. Southern Illinois can be proud of your work, Olivia!
Connecting Southern Illinoisans with Their Government I hosted a Grants Webinar last week to provide local officials and stakeholders with the tools and resources they need to navigate the federal bureaucracy and meet the needs of their constituents. I am proud to say it was a huge success, with participation exceeding our expectations. We had 94 local officials from across Southern Illinois who dialed in to learn more from experts at FEMA, USDA, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Delta Regional Authority. Thanks to all who joined and for our guests who shared their expertise!
Hosting Mobile Office Hours Across Southern Illinois Our staff will be hosting mobile office hours across Southern Illinois this July so you can speak with our casework experts face-to-face with comfort and convenience. Please visit with any questions you may have regarding veterans’ benefits, Social Security, Medicare, the IRS and more. 
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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