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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.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) released the following statement on the House budget votes:
“Unfortunately none of the budgets presented this week represent the kind of workable and humane compromise needed to balance our budget and support our economic growth.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the National Fab Lab Network Act of 2013 to promote advanced manufacturing in the U.S. and invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. The bill is being introduced with bipartisan support from 15 original co-sponsors including Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Rep. Tom Massie (KY- 4), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) and others.
"As a businessman and manufacturer, I know firsthand how important it is to have skilled workers.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) submitted the following statement for the Congressional Record marking the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War:
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.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) released the following statement on President Obama’s visit to Argonne:
“As the Representative of Illinois 11th District, which includes parts of Argonne National Lab, I was glad to see President Obama highlighting the important work they do which creates good jobs and supports our local economy. As a businessman and a scientist who worked at Fermi Lab for 22 years, I was also pleased to see the President highlight the need to invest in scientific research and keep our innovative edge.