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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.
Washington, DC—Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the 21st Century STEM Competitive Jobs Act, along with Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2), Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-14), Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-5), Joe Kennedy (MA-4), Rep. Jim Langevin (RI-2), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-2), Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-35), Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2), Rep. Tim Ryan (OH-13) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-25).
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) released the following statement on his vote against H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act:
“I am not opposed, in principle, to the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, and I look forward to the completion of the ordinary process that President Obama is likely to approve. However, I voted against this legislation because it is a bad deal for the American taxpayer, and for U.S. businesses and ignores important environmental permitting processes.
As school districts across Illinois begin to implement the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Joliet Township High School is working hard to ensure that students are experiencing relevant curricular projects that push students to think critically, while applying the information that they learn.
Congressman Bill Foster praised President Obama's signing of the federal disaster declaration for Illinois. The declaration covers those affected by April flooding in 11 Illinois counties including all five counties in the 11thDistrict -- Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will. Following the announcement, Congressman Bill Foster offered help to any 11th District resident, business or community having difficulty applying for federal assistance.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) spoke against H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act and called for increased support for SEC regulators tasked with preventing fraud and protecting our financial markets.
Foster warned of the high cost of deregulation and inadequately funded regulators, which led to the economic collapse that cost Americans $16 trillion – more than $50,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
Joliet City Councilman Jim McFarland wants to hear firsthand – and publicly – what Corrections Corp. of America plans to do if it builds an immigration detention center in Joliet.
McFarland, who called for a public meeting to learn about what has been discussed privately with city officials, was one of several community leaders at a news conference Thursday to speak against a controversial proposal to build a for-profit immigrant detention center in Joliet.
Washington, DC—Today, Representatives Bill Foster, Tammy Duckworth, Mike Quigley and Brad Schneider submitted a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano raising concerns over a proposal to allow a for-profit detention company to own and operate an immigration detention center in Illinois. In the letter, the Representatives ask that Secretary Napolitano reconsider allowing a for-profit detention company to construct an immigration detention center in Illinois.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) became a cosponsor of H.R. 1565, the Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2013. The bipartisan legislation, a mirror of the Manchin-Toomey bill which received a majority of votes in the Senate (but failed to get 60), would strengthen background checks for gun purchases by expanding the system to include all commercial firearm sales, blocking criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from lawfully purchasing firearms.
Washington, DC—Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) released the following statement on reports that the Internal Revenue Service inappropriately targeted conservative organizations:
“No one in the United States should be unjustly targeted because of personal, religious or political beliefs. Reports that the Internal Revenue Service has unfairly targeted conservative organizations should be thoroughly investigated and any responsible parties should be held accountable.