Foster Statement on House Speaker Election

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) released the following statement after Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected Speaker of the House:

"I'm greatly relieved that, after 22 days of self-induced paralysis, Republicans have been able to fulfill their constitutional duty of electing a Speaker. 

"Speaker Johnson's first address to the House contained several positive items, including a commitment to decentralize power from the Speaker's office to rank-and-file Members. His full-throated support of Israel was welcome, but his complete failure to even mention support for our allies in Ukraine or address the growing need for humanitarian relief throughout the world was deeply troubling. 

"It remains to be seen whether he will continue pressing to defund Social Security and advance other extreme proposals like a nationwide abortion ban. While my colleagues and I will continue to search for bipartisan common ground, I will stand against any effort to hurt working families and threaten women's reproductive rights." 

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