Press Releases

Today, Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the 117th Congress Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after he was confirmed by the Republican conference to serve as the 15th Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for the 118th Congress.

“It is a deep honor to be selected by my colleagues to lead the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for the 118th Congress. We’ve made great progress for veterans and their families over the past few years to put them first and renew trust in the Department. As Chairman, I plan to build on the bipartisan successes of those who came before me. In order to do that, we need to hold the Biden administration accountable and restore regular order. This will help us bring VA into the 21st century with commonsense legislation and oversight for the next generation of warfighters, without leaving behind today’s veterans,” said Chairman Bost. “Growing up in a military family and then enlisting in the Marine Corps myself, the mission of our Committee has always been personal for me. Serving as Chairman is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I promise I will not let my veteran community down. Let’s get to work.”

Chairman Bost’s first action is requesting key oversight documents from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), read the letter he sent to VA Secretary McDonough this morning here.

Chairman Bost also announced the Committee’s new Staff Director.

“I want to thank my friend and previous Staff Director, Maria Tripplaar, for her years of service to the Committee and I wish her all the best in her next chapter. I am pleased to announce that Jon Clark will serve as the Committee’s new Staff Director,” said Chairman Bost. “As the previous Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and a member of the Committee’s staff for the last 16 years, Jon has helped Members negotiate and send countless pieces of veterans’ legislation through both chambers of Congress and to the president’s desk. He brings a deep knowledge of veterans’ issues, the veteran community, and the legislative and oversight process to the table. I have no doubt that his experience will help me lead the Committee in the right direction as we work to deliver on the pledge we have made to veterans, their families, and their survivors.”

Background
Jon Clark has been with the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since 2006. As the Republican Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, he focused on oversight and legislation relating to veterans’ education and rehabilitation benefits, improving opportunities for veteran owned small businesses, veterans’ employment, the Transition Assistance Program, and VA’s loan guaranty program. He has worked on various pieces of legislation over the years including many improvements to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, such as the Harry W. Colmery Educational Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the Forever GI Bill. Other major laws he has worked on include: the Johnny Isakson and Dr. David P. Roe Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2020; the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017; and many others. Jon has also served as the Committee’s Press Secretary, Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, and in other various roles. A native of Indianapolis, IN, Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Analysis from the O’Neil School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington. He lives with his wife and two young sons in the Kingman Park neighborhood in Northeast Washington, DC.