Education
Long before I was a businessman or a physicist, I was a curious kid. I was always taking things apart to see how they worked, or trying to make something new. It was this curiosity combined with the excellent education I received from public schools and universities that led me to start a business with my brother and to later pursue a career as a physicist. As our economy becomes increasingly STEM-based, it has never been more important to ensure our students are getting the education and training they will need to thrive. I support the right of every young person to have access to a high quality, affordable education that does not leave students with crippling debt. A good education is the key to future economic success. That’s why I support the use of public funds for public education. Every student in this country should have the resources they need to succeed regardless of their zip code.
My Work on Education
Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Parents PLUS Loan Fairness and Responsibility Act. This legislation would provide a rational fix for parents experiencing multiple financial burdens and allow students to take responsibility for the student debt that was incurred on their behalf.
U.S. Reps. Lauren Underwood and Bill Foster were among the Illinois members of Congress who urged Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to rescind a rule which they said would improperly divert federal funds away from public schools.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act to expand broadband access for low-income families in HUD-assisted housing and to ensure that more students have the opportunity to succeed in school. This bill would allow families who live in HUD-assisted housing, whose children qualify for free or reduced lunch, to use federal assistance on broadband internet access.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) led a letter to the nation’s nine federal student loan servicers urging them to apply emergency financial assistance measures announced by the Department of Education in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis to all of the loans they currently service. The letter was signed by 61 Members of Congress.
Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Partnerships for Progress and Prosperity (P3) Act to strengthen the classroom to career pipeline for American students by creating a grant program to promote educational partnerships between schools and employers.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster announced that Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet will receive an award from the Department of Health and Human Services for nearly $3.5 million.
The funding will be provided through the HHS Head Start and Early Head Start Office, according to a news release.
“Investing in our future means investing in early childhood education,” said Foster, D-Naperville.
Joliet, IL – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Joliet will receive an award from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the amount of $3,495,458. The funding will be provided through the HHS’s Head Start and Early Head Start Office.
WASHINGTON, DC - Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4625, the Protect GI Bill Act which included legislative language introduced by Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) earlier this year. This legislation would align definitions of an eligible child in the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense for the purposes of the education benefit transfer.
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced H.R. 4645, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Inclusion Act, to assist those who forgo potentially lucrative careers to serve the public good. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Lee (D-CA), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Maloney (D-NY), Schakowsky (D-IL), and Thompson (D-MS).
SUGAR GROVE – U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, headlined a panel discussion on student loan debt Aug. 5 at Waubonsee Community College.
With a panel of six and an audience of dozens, topics included the importance of financial literacy, how to find assistance with student loan repayment and what can be done to promote college affordability.