Congress Approves $1.6 Billion for St. Louis VA Hospital Modernization, Bost Says

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 the construction of a new bed tower, a mental health and substance abuse clinic, administrative facilities, parking garages, and a central utility plant.

"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.”

The John Cochran Division serves thousands of veterans across the Metro East region of Southern Illinois and the greater St. Louis region. Initial funding for design, construction and land acquisition was authorized and appropriated in 2010. This request will help address funding gaps created when previous budget requests were not authorized or appropriated.

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