U.S. Representatives Mike Bost (IL-12) and Ann Wagner (MO-2) are leading efforts to urge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prioritize much-needed improvements at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis.
The hospital, which serves veterans from both Missouri and Southern Illinois, has long been in need of significant upgrades, including the replacement of its aging bed tower and the modernization of clinical services.
In a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, Bost, Wagner, and their colleagues, including Reps. Sam Graves (MO-6), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3), and Jason Smith (MO-8), highlighted the decade-long delays in addressing the hospital’s deficiencies.
They called for immediate action to ensure the facility can provide veterans with the high-quality care they deserve.
As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Bost emphasized that the project must be a top priority, noting that veterans have been waiting too long for improved medical services.
Wagner echoed these sentiments, calling the delay a "shameful failure" and urging the Biden administration to secure funding to complete the project.
Both lawmakers stress that veterans, who have served the nation with honor, deserve access to world-class healthcare facilities.
