Mike Bost is a fiery conservative known for his passionate floor speeches and unwavering support for veterans, drawing on his own experience as a Marine Corps veteran and firefighter. Before coming to Congress in 2015, he served two decades in the Illinois General Assembly, where he gained notoriety for dramatically tearing up legislation on the House floor in protest of what he saw as a rushed pension bill. As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Bost has made reforming the Department of Veterans Affairs and improving care for veterans his signature issue. His blue-collar background and populist appeal have helped him maintain a strong hold on his southern Illinois district despite its competitive nature.