Infrastructure and Transportation
Reliable and safe infrastructure drives economic growth and is vital to our communities. One of my top priorities is making sure that Illinois receives its fair share of federal resources, especially funding to strengthen our state’s transportation infrastructure.
Smart investments in infrastructure yield very large returns on investment for the federal taxpayer. Underinvestment in infrastructure is detrimental to economic growth and job creation. I believe it is critical that we continue to invest in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and railways, to support efficiency and safety.
In 2021, I was proud to vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - the largest investment in American infrastructure in decades - and I am proud that thanks to that law, Illinois communities, including those in IL-11 are receiving much-needed funding to improve transportation infrastructure.
More on Infrastructure and Transportation
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted for the Omnibus Appropriations bill to fund the government through fiscal year 2016.
"While I am disappointed that House Republicans once again took our government to the brink, I'm pleased that we were finally able to reach a reasonable, bipartisan agreement and avoid a government shutdown," said Foster. "This bill includes increases in funding for several important priorities, including education, infrastructure, and medical research."
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Bill Foster (IL-11) voted for the conference report on Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. The act is the first long-term transportation bill passed by Congress in over a decade and will fund transportation projects for the next five years. The measure, which authorizes $281 billion in funding, will now go to the Senate for a final vote.
While Foster voted for the measure, he expressed disappointment that the final bill did not include the Foster Payer Statement Amendment that was included in the original House bill.
Washington, DC—Last night, the House of Representatives passed an amendment introduced by Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) that would take steps to close the Payer State gap by more clearly reporting the distribution of transportation funding.
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Bill Foster (IL-11) voted for H.R. 3819, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015. The bill allows transportation funds to continue flowing to states while Congress works to pass a long-term transportation bill.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) spoke on the House floor about the efforts of workers to restore service at the Chicago Air-Route-Traffic Control Center in Aurora after the facility was disabled in an act of sabotage.
Video of Foster's speech is available here.
Text of Foster's remarks is below:
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Winter 2015. Commuter A nips out of her garage in the suburbs, turns onto I-88 and then crawls along the tollway and the Eisenhower Expressway, eventually arriving at work in the Loop where parking costs about $290 a month.
Commuter B drives to her local Metra station, parks, then hops on the UP West Line into Chicago. Her monthly pass and local parking is about $245.
Conventional wisdom holds that Commuter B is doing the right thing taking public transit, reducing pollution and traffic.