Mike Bost
Bost pressed over delayed weapons deliveries in May 2024: "Congress approved emergency aid to Israel and expected the aid would be delivered swiftly. Now, President Biden's slow-rolling weapons to Israel while using American taxpayer dollars to build a pier in Gaza. These decisions hurt Israel and help Hamas."
Bost represents Illinois's 12th District in the southern tip of the state, chairs the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and is running for re-election.
His position-band statement is a demand that approved weapons move faster. In May 2024 he joined 104 House members asking the President to explain delays in delivering weapons and artillery to Israel, after reports that the White House had paused 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs. His release also faults the administration for "withholding critical aid to our strongest partner in the Middle East" and contrasts it with U.S. money spent on the Gaza aid pier.
That pairing is his clearest statement on both directions of the American cheque: he wants the weapons delivered and objects to the humanitarian pier being funded alongside them.
In 2025 he co-sponsored H.R. 1229, the United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act. In January 2026 he was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that met Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Tracked votes: backed sending U.S. weapons or funding to the government of Israel in 6 of 6 recorded votes.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- [Position, 2024-05-17] His release, confirmed verbatim: "Congress approved emergency aid to Israel and expected the aid would be delivered swiftly," said Bost. "Now, President Biden's slow-rolling weapons to Israel while using American taxpayer dollars to build a pier in Gaza. These decisions hurt Israel and help Hamas. This is failed leadership on, literally, a global scale. The American people deserve answers as to why the administration is withholding critical aid to our stronge[st partner in the Middle East]." The release notes he joined a bipartisan coalition of 104 House members, and that the push followed reports the White House paused delivery of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs designated for Israel's military response to Hamas. Note: the research rendered this quote with an ellipsis between "pier in Gaza" and "These decisions"; the page has a full stop and no elision, so the card quotes it whole.
- [Position, 2025] Co-sponsored H.R. 1229, the United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025 (BillTrack profile).
- His recorded votes on the tracked bills appear as badges on this card and align with the stated position: for the aid packages, against the cuts.
U.S. aid to Palestinians
- [Position, 2024-05-17] The same release objects to "using American taxpayer dollars to build a pier in Gaza" alongside the delayed weapons. That is a statement about U.S. money for the Gaza aid pipeline and is quoted on the card in his own words, with the recipient named in the same clause.
Characterization of the conflict
- [Position, 2024-05-17] Called Israel "our strongest partner in the Middle East" (same release).
- [Position, 2024-07-24] After Prime Minister Netanyahu's address to Congress, said the Prime Minister "rightly resolved to protect his people from the evils of Hamas." Not opened.
- [After October 7, 2023-10-08] Statement condemning the October 7 assault, describing Hamas as an "Iran-backed terrorist organization" and affirming Israel's right to defend its sovereignty.
- [Earlier record, 2023-06-06] Told the U.S.-Israel Leaders Summit there is "no greater US ally than Israel".
Related rhetoric and lobbying
- [Earlier record, 2015-03-03] After Netanyahu's 2015 address, said "Israel's steadfast friendship remains more important to the United States than ever before."
- [Position, 2026-01-29] Part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that met Prime Minister Netanyahu (Israeli government readout).
- [Earlier record, 2021-05-22] Podcast interview during the May 2021 escalation; audio source, not opened.
Safety and antisemitism (context)
Also in this race: Julie Fortier (Democrat) · All Illinois candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.