In the News
AURORA — A federal bill could be just what Waubonsee Community College needs to secure funding to build a state-of-the-art "Fab Lab" in Aurora.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, a Democrat representing the 11th District, joined Mayor Tom Weisner, Waubonsee Community College President Christine Sobek and others Thursday afternoon to talk about the project.
"Fab Labs," including the mobile lab that visited Waubonsee in 2010, are fabrication laboratories open to the public where children and adults can invent, design and manufacture products using design equipment.
When Congressman Bill Foster was raising his daughter, Christine, he once bought an old mill drill machine in the hope she would start designing and creating whatever inventions her young mind could manufacture. The effort didn't result in a Fortune 500 company, but she did walk away with some basic design and machine skills as well as some Styrofoam toys.
Now Foster wants to bring an upgraded version of that same learning process to the 11th Congressional District he represents.
An Illinois congressman is proposing legislation that would promote advanced manufacturing in the United States while investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-Naperville) is introducing the "Fab Lab" legislation. Fab Labs are fabrication laboratories available to the public throughout the country where children and adults can invent, design and manufacture products. "We have a great tradition of innovation in manufacturing in America," Foster said.
"As a businessman and manufacturer, I know firsthand how important it is to have skilled workers.
The impact of the federal sequester heavily influenced President Barack Obama's speech to scientists at Argonne National Laboratory Friday afternoon, as he painted a bleak picture of American research being outpaced if funding dries up.
"In a time where every month you've got to replace your smartphone, imagine what that means when China, Germany and Japan are pumping up basic research and we're just sitting there doing nothing," he said.
A day after Speaker Michael Madigan pronounced the gay marriage bill 12 votes short, a group pushing the issue tried to recapture momentum by announcing support from seven Illinois Democratic congressmen --- even though they don't get to vote in Springfield.
The letter, written to members of the Illinois General Assembly by North Side and west suburban U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Chicago Democrat, was the latest move by same-sex marriage supporters to try to step up pressure for a vote on the bill.
WASHINGTON--As the Illinois House in Springfield nears a vote on gay marriage, seven Illinois members of Congress--all Democrats from the Chicago area-- urged passage of the "Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act."
Signing the letter were Reps. Danny Davis, Luis Gutierrez, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Tammy Duckworth, Brad Schneider and Bill Foster.
Six members of the Illinois congressional delegation sent a letter in support of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act to the Illinois General Assembly today.
Seven Illinois members of Congress have sent a letters to the Illinois General Assembly, urging the passage of equal marriage legislation. Rep. Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Tammy Duckworth, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Luis Gutierrez and Brad Schneider are among those pressing for the passage of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act The letter argues that the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act will strengthen families and protect religious institutions.