Foster to donate congressional paycheck during government shutdown

January 10, 2019

Alex Ortiz, The Herald-News

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, released a statement this week saying that he will donate his congressional pay earned during the government shutdown to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Foster did the same during the 2013 shutdown over repealing the Affordable Care Act.

"President Trump and congressional Republicans have failed the American people with a reckless and unnecessary government shutdown that is hurting hardworking families across the country," Foster said in the statement. "It is unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of federal employees are furloughed or are working without pay while Republicans insist on wasting taxpayer money on a useless border wall."

About 800,000 federal workers are either working without pay or staying home without pay during the shutdown. The shutdown reached 19 days on Wednesday with little progressmade between Trump and congressional Democrats.

"Too many of these workers are struggling to make ends meet as our President refuses to reopen the government," Foster said in the statement. "Until the President and Senate Republicans act to end this irresponsible shutdown, I will once again donate my congressional pay to the Northern Illinois Food Bank."

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is a nonprofit organization.

Issues:Congressional Issues