Lowering Health Care Costs
Every American should have access to high-quality, affordable health care.
One of my proudest votes in Congress was for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. Since its enactment, the law has given millions of Americans access to health care coverage. Thanks to the ACA, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions, young people can stay on their parents' health plan until they turn 26, and all insurance plans must cover health care basics like emergency room visits, hospital stays, and prescription drugs.
In 2022, our Democratic majority passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a landmark piece of legislation that caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries, caps annual Medicare Part D drug expenses at $2,000 per year, and finally allows Medicare to negotiate lower prices for certain drugs.
I remain committed to strengthening the ACA, protecting and expanding Medicare, and pursuing sensible policies that will lower health care costs for all Americans.
More on Lowering Health Care Costs
Aurora, IL – Last night, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) hosted a telephone town hall discussion about the growing opioid epidemic and the legislative initiatives he is working on to address it.
Over 4,000 residents of the 11th Congressional District joined the call, and several had the opportunity to ask questions.
Washington, DC – Last night, in a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives passed the Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act, a bill that will allow for better collection of data to address the opioid epidemic.
H.R. 4982 was introduced by Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) and directs a GAO study of in-patient and out-patient addiction treatment capacity and availability in the U.S. as well as an assessment of the need for this treatment capacity.
Washington, DC – On Friday, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) took to the floor of the House to honor the memory of the thousands of Americans who have been lost to heroin and opioid addiction.
Foster has introduced legislation to combat the opioid epidemic and has led support for President's Obama's budget request of increased funding for opioid abuse prevention and treatment programs.
You can watch video of Congressman Foster's speech here.
Text of Foster's remarks is below:
Washington, DC – In a letter to House Republican leadership, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11), Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), and over 90 of their Democratic House colleagues called for an end to the Republicans' Select Panel to Investigate Planned Parenthood.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Advancing Standards in Regenerative Medicine Act to help foster innovation in regenerative medicine, a burgeoning field that holds potential for more targeted medical treatments for chronic and life-threatening diseases. The bill is the House companion to S.2443, introduced by Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in January.
Washington, DC— Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) spoke on the House floor about President Obama's challenge to find a "moonshot" to cure cancer. Foster argues that the moonshot is achievable, but only because of many years and millions of dollars of investment in federal research and development.
Foster, who was a high-energy physicist for over 20 years, is the only Ph.D. scientist in Congress.
Video of Foster's speech is available here.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted for H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015.
"This budget agreement is the kind of practical, bipartisan legislation that we need to see more of. While it is far from perfect, this agreement will allow government programs to be funded at a level that better meets our needs for essential services and avoid, for the next 17 months, a situation where a fringe, minority group can threaten the full faith and credit of the United States," said Foster.
Aurora, IL –On Friday, October 2, 2015, Congressman Bill Foster toured the Planned Parenthood of Illinois Aurora Health Center in Aurora, Illinois. Foster toured the facility with Yolanda Valadez, Regional Director of Health Center Operations, and Carole Brite, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, to learn more about the essential health services they provide. Recently, Foster voted against legislation blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding.
Proposed budget includes $12 million grant to increase access to heroin overdose antidote
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Illinois, applauded President Barack Obama's budget proposal, which would increase resources for naloxone.
The president's budget proposal included a $12 million grant to increase access to naloxone, a prescription drug used to reverse heroin and other opioid overdoses, for communities in need.
Heroin abuse, and the deaths that have happened in Kane County because of it, have made for major headlines in the Fox Valley over the past few years.
On Wednesday, a group of local leaders got together to talk about how the fight against heroin is going, and what can be done to finally win the battle against the addictive drug.