Science and Technology
As the only Ph.D. physicist in Congress, I work hard to make sure the scientific perspective has a seat at the table during policy discussions in Washington.
I am proud that our district is home to two world-class research laboratories, Argonne and Fermilab, where I spent 24 years as a high-energy particle physicist. Our national labs are the crown jewels of America’s science infrastructure, and I am proud to support robust funding so they can continue to conduct the research that is critical to addressing the challenges we face.
America must remain the world leader for science research and technological innovation. I was proud to help pass the CHIPS & Science Act, critical legislation to bolster our science infrastructure and promote American scientific and technological leadership for decades to come.
I’m also proud to support funding for increased STEM educational opportunities for students of all ages. It’s important that we open up opportunities for students from all backgrounds in the STEM fields, and I will continue to advocate for those critical resources.
More on Science and Technology
Lynn Sweet, Chicago Sun-Times
WASHINGTON — Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm hits the Chicago area Monday with stops at Argonne National Laboratory and Hyzon Motors, which makes zero-emission vehicles, to highlight the Biden administration's initiatives to combat climate change and spur development of clean energy.
Granholm, a former Michigan governor, made her first visit as energy secretary to the Chicago area in December, where, among other stops, she toured Fermilab in Batavia, the national particle physics and accelerator laboratory.
Washington, DC – Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes an amendment sponsored by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) that would improve nuclear security around the world.
Katherine Huggins, Forbes
Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) has spent more than a decade in Congress and is the only current lawmaker to hold a PhD in physics. "One of the reasons I feel occasionally useful in Congress is actually having some background in business and technology, I have some idea of where the puck is going,'' says the 66-year-old lawmaker representing the state's 11th congressional district, which includes parts of five counties roughly 30 miles west of Chicago.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to promote science diplomacy. The resolution calls for greater international cooperation, while seeking new ways to advance scientific research and innovation.
Lisa Marie Farver, Patch
To celebrate Earth Day, the Morton Arboretum kicked off its initiative to plant 3,000 trees throughout the Chicago region. Friday's launch, which included remarks by by Rep. Sean Casten and Rep. Bill Foster, marked the start of the arboretum's Centennial Tree Planting Initiative.
Arboretum President and CEO Gerard T. Donnelly presented the first of the thousands of trees to be planted: a linden tree. Less common to the Chicago area, the linden is one of 20 different types of trees that will be planted through May 2023.
NBC 5 Chicago
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly more popular in the United States at a time when lawmakers acknowledge the country should make better investments in battery technology and its supply chain.
On Thursday, Rep. Bill Foster (D-Illinois) led a field hearing in suburban Woodridge to discuss the expected surge in demand for electric vehicle batteries over the next decade, while considering the implications for the metals required in EV battery manufacturing.
Saul Elbein, The Hill
The U.S. needs to create a "road map" to the batteries of the future even as it solves existing supply chain issues, experts told a House panel on Thursday.
President Biden has pushed domestic automakers to electrify their vehicle fleets, a goal that in the short term will require securing supply chains for critical minerals like lithium and cobalt that are used in lithium-ion batteries, experts say.
Tom Ranstack, The Well News
U.S. policy on alternative fuel vehicles is at a turning point in the transition away from gasoline-powered engines, according to witnesses at a congressional hearing Thursday.
Delays in securing the metals and minerals to manufacture rechargeable electric motors are likely to mean China jumps in to take over the market, they said.
"We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to discover and develop new electric vehicle technologies, said Venkat Srinivasan, a director of energy storage science at the Argonne National Laboratory.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) released the following statement after he was named to the Conference Committee for the America COMPETES Act:
Washington, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) released the following statement after President Biden delivered the State of the Union address:
"Tonight, President Biden laid out why it's never a good idea to bet against the American people. After two years of fighting COVID-19, there is no economy on Earth in a better position to confront the global economic challenges triggered by the pandemic.