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Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that his legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 525 N. Broadway in Aurora, Illinois, as the Kenneth M. Christy Post Office Building has been passed by both Houses of Congress.

Ken Christy passed away suddenly on March 26, 2016. Christy spent over 35 years as a letter carrier for the Aurora Post Office, served as Aurora Township Clerk, and as president of the Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers.

Aurora, IL – Last night, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) hosted a telephone town hall discussion about the public health crisis posed by gun violence in America, as well as what Congress can do right now to reduce gun violence in communities across the country.

Nearly 3,400 residents of the 11^th Congressional District joined the call, and several had the opportunity to ask questions.

"I applaud the Illinois lawmakers who passed a stopgap budget that will fund state operations through the end of the year and ensure schools will open this fall. The year-long budget impasse has taken a toll on our state and has adversely affected health and social services. It placed our educational infrastructure in unnecessary jeopardy and failed to provide adequate funding to drug treatment programs. I commend those who came together to pass this deal. But this is no way to run the state of Illinois.

''Today, I joined colleagues, community leaders, and advocates at a press conference in Chicago to demand immediate action to address the gun violence that plagues too many communities in Illinois and across the country. The facts are disturbingly clear: gun violence is a public health crisis, and Congress should act now to address it. The overwhelming majority of Americans – Democrats and Republicans – support common sense measures that would close background check loopholes and prohibit anyone who belongs on the no-fly list from purchasing firearms.

"I joined my colleagues for a sit-in on the House floor to demand that Speaker Ryan and House Republicans allow a vote on legislation to address gun violence. In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in American history, we've reached a moment of truth for our nation. As a scientist, I always look at the facts, and gun violence is a public health crisis. It is time we act to stop it. You don't have to be a scientist to know that universal background checks are a fundamentally good idea.

Aurora, IL – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that $350,000 in grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services will be awarded to VNA Healthcare in Aurora for the expansion of their oral health services.

"A major aspect of providing quality healthcare is making sure everyone has access to oral health services as well," Foster said. "This funding will give VNA the ability to provide dental care to an additional 1,300 patients and provide resources to hire new dental professionals."