WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today announced that Congress has approved a Department of Veterans Affairs budget request of $1.6 billion to modernize the John Cochran Veterans Hospital in St. Louis. The VA funding bill, which is expected to be signed into law by President Trump, provides for construction of a new bed tower, mental health and substance abuse clinic, administrative facilities, parking garages, and central utility plant.

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"Our veterans deserve world-class care, and that means making sure the facilities serving them are up to the task," said Bost. "The John Cochran Division is a critical lifeline for veterans in Metro East Illinois and beyond. This investment would go a long way toward making sure it can continue to serve them for decades to come. As Chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will do everything I can to make sure Congress follows through.”