Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - This budget is a demonstration of contempt for hard-working families and a devastating blow to the United States' position as a leader in science and innovation. It reveals the empty promises that the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress made to Americans to make our country great again. Instead of working to improve the lives of Americans, this budget will completely devastate programs on which so many rely and put our children's future at risk.

Washington, DC – On Thursday, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) led a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt concerning the recent dismissal of several members of the EPA's Board of Scientific Counselors. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) co-led the letter, which was signed by 70 Members of Congress.

Washington D.C. - Reports that President Trump needlessly revealed information from highly classified allied sources to Russian diplomats are highly disturbing and represent a continuing pattern of irresponsible off-the-cuff statements. Information sharing with allied intelligence sources is crucial to our national security. They depend on trust-based relationships that are built up over decades and can be shattered by a single thoughtless act of an incompetent executive. I call on the President to inform Congress of the meeting's details.

Washington D.C. - The sudden dismissal of James Comey is deeply disturbing. Our democracy only functions as the Founding Fathers envisioned when its leaders, including the President of the United States, operate with full accountability and transparency in the interests of the United States and her citizens. Public confidence in our democracy demands the immediate appointment of an independent prosecutor.

Washington D.C. - I was proud to cast my vote against the American Health Care Act. This is the 65^th time Republicans have voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but now we know what their replacement looks like. It would be an unmitigated disaster for hardworking Americans across this country. The Congressional Budget Office determined that under the original AHCA, 24 million Americans would lose their health insurance. A recent report by the Center for American Progress found that it would destroy nearly two million jobs.

Washington, DC – I am pleased we were able to pass a bipartisan spending bill. It is an encouraging first step for this Congress as we fight to maintain our country's leadership role in science and innovation. I am cautiously optimistic that Congress can work together on the FY18 budget and secure funding levels that promote a healthy economy and strong scientific infrastructure. We will need to wait and see if this spending bill represents a real rejection of President Trump's so-called skinny budget that gutted vital funding for science and scientific research.

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) led a letter to President Trump to express concern over proposed cuts to the Department of Energy's Office of Science. The letter affirms the Office's role in the preservation of innovation and continuance of American competitive edge in the global economy. It strongly encourages the President to reconsider budget cuts to the Office of Science. He was joined by 66 of his colleagues who cosigned the letter.

Washington, DC - While the details are still unclear, we already know President Trump's tax plan will massively expand the national debt. Our country cannot afford a repeat of the enormous deficits that happened the last time Republicans controlled all three branches of government, when the Bush tax cuts and runaway military spending took the $200 billion surplus inherited from the Clinton Administration and turned it into a $1.5 trillion deficit and the worst economy of our lifetimes.