In this episode of the Rural Voice, the co-hosts interview United States Congressman Mike Bost regarding his work on rural education and support of the Rural Education Investment Act. This act suggests investing in rural education as directed by local school districts throughout the United States. Representative Bost suggests that each local school board has its own individual challenges and therefore, funding should be directed by each school district. He discusses many of the prevailing trends in rural education. Representative Bost represents12 counties in Illinois’ 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Sworn into office on January 6, 2015, Mike is continuing the fight for our Southern Illinois’ values in Washington – a fight he began in the U.S. military, then as a first responder, a local job creator, and a state representative. In the 116th Congress, Rep. Bost serves on three key committees: Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and Transportation & Infrastructure. Mike also serves on the following Subcommittees: Commodities, Exchanges, Energy, and Credit; and Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research under Agriculture; Oversight and Investigations, and as the lead Republican on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs under Veterans' Affairs; and Highways and Transit; Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials; Highways and Transit; and Water Resources and Environment under Transportation and Infrastructure.