Civil Rights
Every individual should have the right to live free from discrimination and pursue their dreams regardless of race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. As the son of a Civil Rights lawyer who wrote much of the enforcement language of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, this issue is a top priority for me. Since the Civil Rights Movement, we have made great progress toward equality, but our work is not over. We must continue to fight against efforts to weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and I actively support legislation to restore this landmark legislation. I am also an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act. This legislation would update the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to give the LGBTQ community the same protections under the law. Currently, there is no federal law that protects against discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodations such as hotels and restaurants for individuals in the LGBTQ community.
My Work on Civil Rights
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on reports that the Trump administration is preparing to deploy 150 federal agents to Illinois, without sharing information about their mission or scope of duty:
Washington, DC – Tonight, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act:
“I was proud to vote for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It is past time for us to take these first transformational steps to achieve structural change in our criminal justice system and combat police brutality.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, ruling that federal employment non-discrimination laws protect all LGBTQ employees:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement in support of the Justice in Policing Act:
“I’m proud to be a cosponsor of the historic Justice in Policing Act, which will take important and overdue steps to achieve transformational, structural change in our criminal justice system and combat police brutality.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion blocking the addition of a “citizenship question” to the Census for now:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued a statement in support of the Equality Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act:
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced H.R. 1045, the Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act. The legislation would require immigration detention centers to inform immigrant detainees of their legal rights within five days of their arrival at the facilities. It would also require the Attorney General to develop and implement legal orientation programs in every detention center that houses immigrants.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address:
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Bill Foster announced his support for H.R. 1, The For the People Act. This piece of legislation is a comprehensive set of reforms that would protect the right to vote, end the influence of big money in politics, and enact higher standards to end corruption in our political system.