Gun Violence Prevention
The gun violence epidemic in America continues to shatter communities large and small across our country, including in our district. In 2022, I was proud to vote for sensible, bipartisan gun violence legislation - the first such legislation to pass Congress in over 30 years - but much more needs to be done.
I support banning military-style assault weapons that are designed to kill as many people as possible in seconds. It is not a coincidence that they are the weapon of choice for mass shootings, and they have no place in our communities. I also support universal background checks so that we can keep guns out of the hands of people that should not have them.
Overwhelming majorities of Americans support common sense reforms that will help save innocent lives. I will continue to work in Congress to find bipartisan agreement on sensible legislation to do just that.
More on Gun Violence Prevention
Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Kids Act, a package of critical, common sense gun safety measures:
"The mass shootings we've seen over the past few weeks – at a grocery store in Buffalo, a medical clinic in Oklahoma, and an elementary school in Texas – are more than heartbreaking. They have highlighted the extent to which political dysfunction has hurt our nation and failed our people.
Naperville Community Television
In a local response to the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, about 60 people gathered Saturday afternoon at the WWII memorial on Washington Street in downtown Naperville. The group was there in protest of the recent wave of mass shootings in the U.S. and to urge elected officials to take action. The crowd chanted "enough is enough," "end the violence now," and "no more guns."
Illinois Legislation
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a House resolution to honor the victims of the shooting that took place at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois on February 15, 2019.
Five innocent people were killed and six police officers were injured when a shooter who was illegally in possession of a firearm opened fire at the Henry Pratt Company warehouse in Aurora.
Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Biden addressed a Joint Session of Congress:
"Tonight, President Biden laid out a bold plan to overcome this pandemic and build back an economy that is stronger and more equitable for all Americans.
Alex Ortiz, Joliet Herald-News
Both Democrats and a Republican representing Will County in Congress supported legislation to expand background checks on all gun sales.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills last Thursday to require a background check for every gun sale or transfer and to close a "loophole" which allows for the sale of a firearm if a background check is not completed within three business day, according to a news release.
Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, called the changes "commonsense" and cited gun violence near his district as an example of what the bill aim to prevent.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) voted to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act, two commonsense gun violence prevention measures to require background checks on all gun sales and close the Charleston Loophole that allowed the hate crime at Mother Emanuel AME Church. In the 116th Congress, the House passed versions of these two bills in a strong, bipartisan way.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the opening of the 117th Congress:
"I am honored to represent the people of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois for another term. In just a matter of days, a new President will be sworn in and an administration that believes in science-driven policies will get to work, and I am ready to work with them to tackle the issues that the people sent us to Washington to address.
Washington, DC – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's State of the Union address:
"As expected, President Trump continues to try and take credit for the Obama economic recovery. The fact is that both job growth and economic growth are slower under President Trump than under President Obama. Under Obama, the stock market tripled, and unemployment was cut in half – President Trump hasn't come close to matching that record.
Marie Wilson, the Daily Herald
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster has chosen to honor a suburban law enforcement leader with a ticket to the State of the Union address.
Aurora police Chief Kristen Ziman is scheduled to attend the Feb. 4 speech by President Donald Trump in the House of Representatives' chamber in Washington, D.C., as the guest of Foster, a Naperville Democrat who represents the 11th District.
Foster said in a news release he chose Ziman for her dedication to the safety and well-being of people in Illinois' second-largest city, parts of which he represents.