Press Releases
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster voted against H.R. 1797, a Republican bill that would overturn Roe vs. Wade and restrict a woman’s right to choose by banning all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, even if the health of the mother is at risk. Not only would H.R. 1797, drastically limit a woman’s right to choose, it would force a woman and her doctor to wait until her condition was terminal to finally act to protect her health, but by then it may be too late.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster is calling on Congress to take action to stop the student loan interest rate increase. If no action is taken, student loan interest will double on July 1st, jumping from 3.4% to 6.8% for federally subsidized student loans. Reports have shown that growing student debt is having negative effects on the economy, including delayed home ownership. Congressman Foster is calling on House Republican Leadership to allow a vote on legislation to stop this rate increase.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted against H.R. 2217, an appropriations bill which included a “poison pill” amendment that would attempt to expedite the deportation of Dreamers, children brought into the country illegally while under the age of 16.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Bill Foster (IL-11) and Ted Deutch (FL-21) introduced the Deutch-Foster amendment to end the costly and inhumane practice of imposing arbitrary immigrant detention requirements. The legislation would strike language in the Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act that requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to have at least 34,000 immigrants in detention at all times. Over 60 national, state and local organizations wrote Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi in support of the amendment.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Bill Foster (IL-11) and Ted Deutch (FL-21) introduced the Deutch-Foster amendment to end the costly and inhumane practice of imposing arbitrary immigrant detention requirements. The legislation would strike language in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act that requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to have at least 34,000 immigrants in detention at all times.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted in support of H.R. 2216, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act and to take action to reduce the backlog in VA benefits claims.
“When I visited the Illinois VA regional claims processing center last month, it was clear that the many months delay in processing VA claims was unacceptable and needed prompt attention. While things are moving in the right direction, the VA has suffered from a chronic lack of adequate resources to carry out their jobs,” said Foster.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted against H.R. 1911 the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, which would raise student loan rates. If Congress fails to act before July 1, 2013 student loan rates will double – need-based loans for more than seven million students will jump from 3.4% to 6.8%. According to nonpartisan reports from the Congressional Research Service, H.R. 1911 would increase costs for students even more than letting loan rates double, adding almost $4 billion in interest charges.