Congressman Bill Foster

During the 119th Congress, Democrats defeated nearly all anti-LGBTQ+ provisions pushed by MAGA Republicans. I am proud to have fought back against these attacks and will continue to stand up for the LGBTQ+ community and their freedoms: www.hrc.org/resources/co...

My Illinois and DC offices are now accepting internship applications for the spring! Learn more at foster.house.gov/intern

Interested in attending one of our nation's service academies? Applications for a military academy nomination from my office are due on October 30, 2026. Visit foster.house.gov/services/mil... for more information!

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, let's continue to uplift Latino voices and celebrate their contributions to our communities. Our diversity is our strength!

Trump's war in Iran is the reason gas and diesel prices are out of control. Lifting sanctions to import fuel from Russia will offer little relief here at home while handing Putin a financial lifeline to continue waging war against Ukraine. The U.S. must restore these sanctions immediately.

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the histories, cultures, traditions, and enduring contributions of Native communities. Let’s continue to lift up Indigenous voices and ensure their stories are recognized and shared for generations to come.

Trump’s tariffs are driving up your costs. The New York Fed found that without his tariffs, the price of goods would have gone down. Republicans refuse to stand up to Trump while you foot the bill. www.cnbc.com/2026/10/08/i...

Recently, I attended AU's elected officials breakfast to discuss how we can strengthen educational opportunities. It was great to give Sen. Linda Holmes a special thank you for her service to our community before she retires. I'm grateful for her leadership over the years—she will be missed!

Trump promised to cut your utility bill in half. He's done the exact opposite. Your energy bills will be even HIGHER because of Trump and Republicans' costly agenda.

REMINDER: The deadline for the 2026 Congressional App Challenge is October 26! Middle and high school students in Illinois’ 11th District can compete by designing and submitting an innovative app. For more information, visit: foster.house.gov/app-challenge.

“Morally binding” agreements like this aren’t going to cut it when AI agents continuously code better versions of themselves that could evade human oversight. Congress must get off the sidelines and pass meaningful, technically feasible AI guardrails.

Reminder: I’m hosting a Job and Career Fair this Thursday, October 1! For more information and to register, visit foster.house.gov/jobs.

As someone who built a manufacturing business right here in the Midwest, I’m always pleased to meet with local manufacturers like Augie and his team at Aurora Defense Group! I’ll continue working in Congress to support small businesses as they navigate tariffs and rising costs.

There is important work to be done in Washington, but Speaker Johnson sent everyone home until after the election. I've joined my colleagues in calling on Johnson to bring Members of Congress back to Washington so we can get to work on AI.

Trump's attacks on science will have negative impacts on our country for years to come. Cutting research and judging grants based on political priorities, not scientific merit, is causing the U.S. to bleed our top talent. www.ft.com/content/848b...

Wishing a meaningful Yom Kippur and an easy fast to those observing in Illinois.

Trump's ban on certain outlets covering the White House is an attack on the First Amendment and the free press. It is the right and responsibility of the press to cover the president and hold the nation’s highest office accountable—no matter who is in office. apnews.com/article/trum...

JOB SEEKERS & EMPLOYERS: I'm hosting a Job & Career Fair on Thursday, October 1 at Waubonsee Community College! If you're looking for a job or an employer looking to set up a booth, visit foster.house.gov/jobs to register. Questions? Call (630) 585-7672.

NEW: The FUTURES Act passed the House with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority. Agentic AI is bringing new threats to our financial system, possibly intensifying bank runs and other cybersecurity risks. Financial agencies must continuously assess their tech so Congress can protect consumers.

Speaker Johnson canceled votes AGAIN, sending Congress home until November 9.  At a critical time for our country when AI companies are asking to be regulated, the Speaker has decided Congress should go home and do nothing. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

My colleagues and I on the Science Committee sat down with representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Hugging Face, and METR to discuss rogue hacking incidents by AI agents. Congress must move with urgency to address risks posed by rogue AI. We cannot stay on the sidelines of this issue any longer.

Software-only solutions will not be enough to protect against AI risks. Air gapping, similar to what they use in nuclear weapons security, should be used to secure high-level research and ensure advanced AI doesn't get into the wrong hands.

One of the biggest risks with AI is recursive self-improvement—where AI agents continuously code better versions of themselves that could evade human oversight. I spoke to ABC News Live about one of the technically feasible ways Congress can address this.

For years now, Speaker Johnson has kept Congress on the sidelines while AI rapidly shapes our future. Americans deserve a Speaker like @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social who understands the urgency of the moment.

International cooperation on AI is essential. The Trump Administration must reverse course and begin talks with China on AI safeguards.

Wishing a happy new year and a meaningful Rosh Hashanah to the Jewish community in Illinois and around the world. May the year ahead be filled with peace, joy, and new beginnings!

My Chip Security Act would require advanced AI chips to include hardware that allows us to track where they are and how they are being used. Congress should pass this legislation as a first step toward implementing technically feasible safeguards against the risks posed by advanced AI.

When scientific fact consistently proves the Trump Administration wrong, they resort to calling it "partisan." Scientific journals are critical to our nation's scientific enterprise. The DOJ's letters attempting to intimidate and silence them damage our nation's ability to lead around the world.

I recently joined FHLB Chicago to tour Taylor Place Apartments, an affordable housing development in McHenry. If we want to lower housing costs, we need to meet demand and keep building more affordable housing options like this one. Check out my visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZxi...

It's been a year since the beginning of Operation Midway Blitz, and excessive use of force by ICE agents is rampant. My Illinois colleagues and I are demanding an investigation into the agents who have been terrorizing our communities and for them to face real accountability.

The contributions of the labor movement to this country are immeasurable. This Labor Day, I'm proud to recognize the workers whose skill, dedication, and contributions keep our communities and economy moving.

Hard-working Americans should get to relax and enjoy Labor Day Weekend, but soaring gas and diesel prices from Trump's war in Iran are causing added stress for families. Gas is over $4 a gallon, nearly a dollar higher than last year. Diesel is close to $6 a gallon, $2 up from last year.

NEW: Republicans' 'One Big Beautiful Bill' could cost Illinois hospitals as much as $4 billion over the coming years. Hospitals across the state—especially ones that serve low-income areas—may be forced to cut staff, reduce services, or close altogether. capitolnewsillinois.com/news/illinoi...