Tag Archives: Congressman Bill Foster

Celebrating Obama’s legacy

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Obama Legacy Initiative

Obama Legacy Initiative Co-Founder Fred Greenwood, left, listens to Congressman Bill Foster, right, discuss President Barack Obama’s legacy during a kickoff campaign event in Naperville June 2. Photo courtesy of Bill Grommel

Jennifer Rice Managing Editor

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, June 16, 2016
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

NAPERVILLE — For Democrats, it’s difficult traveling on the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway and flying into the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.

As a frequent visitor to Washington, D.C., Congressman Bill Foster would like to see the airport be named after someone else — perhaps Barack Obama?

Well, it might be able to happen. A grassroots movement has brought together several like-minded individuals for the not-for-profit Obama Legacy Initiative (OLI), formed to name community landmarks after President Obama.

The group held a fundraiser June 2 in Naperville that was well attended by both dignitaries and the public.

Looking to OLI Co-Founder Fred Greenwood, Foster said if Greenwood could at least get the Washington, D.C. airport back to its original name, “[You would] be doing the country a service,” he said to laughter.

Foster would like Obama remembered and honored for bringing the country out from an economic disaster, which was teetering on the onset of a Depression.

Obama Legacy Initiative

From left, Columbia College Chicago history professor Lindsay Huge, Obama Legacy Initiative Co-Founder Sean Tenner, Congressman Bill Foster and Co-Founder Fred Greenwood brought guest together for a kick-off campaign fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Bill Grommel

“I’m very proud to see that President Obama is spending part of his time now, reminding people just how bad it was when he came into office,” Foster explained. “The economic climate between then and now is something our country should be grateful of.”

Greenwood, along with co-founder Sean Tenner, want to commemorate the significance of Obama’s election and presidency in the overall context of American history. They are looking for suggestions to name community landmarks, such as parks, roads and community centers, after Obama.

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Columbia College Chicago history professor Lindsay Huge would like to see satellite libraries sprinkled around the SouthSide of Chicago, where the Barack Obama Presidential Center will be located.

Huge joked that something is already named after Obama — Obamacare, penned by the Republicans as a criticism towards the president.

“Perhaps he will not need bridges, or airports named after him, since his opponents did him the favor of naming the Affordable Care Act after Obama,” Huge said.

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Unlike the Reagan Legacy Project, which was started by longtime Washington, D.C.-based arch-conservative lobbyist Grover Norquist of American for Tax Reform, OLI was proud to be launched by grassroots volunteers in Obama’s home state.

“We are the exact opposite of the people who put together the Reagan Legacy Project,” Tenner explained. “It’s just folks who think Obama’s presidency needs to be commemorated and serve as an example that anybody in America can grow up to be president.”

For more information to get involved, or to make suggestions, visit obamalegacyinitiative.org

Rep. Bill Foster backs Iran nuclear agreement

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Congressman Bill Foster

Congressman Bill Foster, pictured at a recent Naperville Township Democratic Organization’s meeting, announced Sept. 8 he is supporting the Iran nuclear agreement and will vote in favor of it. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Jennifer Rice Managing Editor

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

NAPERVILLE — Indicating no arms control deal is ever perfect, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) publicly announced Sept. 8 he is putting support behind the Iran nuclear agreement and will be voting in favor of it.

“I am here today to add my name to that list of 29 scientists and engineers who have endorsed the deal and the growing number of members of Congress who will be voting in favor of it,” Foster said during a press conference in Washington, D.C., also attended by Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, and Richard Garwin, a physicist who helped develop the first hydrogen bomb.

He indicated his support for the agreement was determined by science, not trust. Foster, the only physicist in Congress, was a high-energy physicist and particle accelerator designer at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory for more than 20 years.

The House is expected to vote this week to disapprove the Iran nuclear agreement.

During his remarks, Foster stressed that Congress’ overriding objective must be to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “After carefully weighing all the options and possible outcomes, I do believe voting for this deal will make it less likely Iran will develop nuclear weapons. Voting against this deal, with no better options in sight, makes the potential for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon more likely,” the Congressman explained.

Many of Foster’s comments said during the Washington, D.C. press conference were echoed from discussions Foster made Aug. 28 at the Naperville Township Democratic Organization’s (NTDO) meeting in Naperville, where, at that time, he indicated he, “was undecided on his vote.”

He told NTDO members and guests the Iran nuclear agreement was the first treaty he knew of that had technical operating parameters for nuclear reactors, which was an important part of the deal. “There has been a lot of very wise input to our negotiating stance, and one thing that I am really impressed with, is the technical competence of our team in these negotiations,” Foster explained at the NTDO meeting.

At both appearances, Foster made it known voting for or against the agreement is not an easy vote. At the Washington, D.C. press conference, Foster indicated that if Iran walks away from the negotiating table, there will be no guarantee of any inspections at all, which Foster called, “the worst-case scenario for the security of the United States and Israel.”

“I am supporting this deal because I believe that it sets us on the path to the most secure future for the United States, for Israel, and for the world,” he explained.

If world leaders want to get serious about stopping nuclear activities in Iran, the Mideast and around the world, Foster would like to see the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons strengthened, including key enforcement and inspection provisions.

Rep. Robin Kelly on gun violence and the TPP

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Congresswomen Robin Kelly

Congresswomen Robin Kelly explains the various functions of the committees she sits on, then fielded questions from guests at a recent brunch for Democratic Women of DuPage County. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Jennifer Rice Managing Editor

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

You can view videos of the 2015 Democratic Women of DuPage County Annual Organizational Brunch by going to the Fox Valley Labor News YouTube channel

NAPERVILLE — Congresswoman Robin Kelly expressed her hope of working with young, new Republicans coming into the 114th Congress, the disrespect she sees toward President Barack Obama from follow Republicans and the need for gun ownership accountability.

She discussed all these hot button topics at the Jan. 24 Democratic Women of DuPage County (DWDC) Annual Organizational Brunch where she was the keynote speaker, along with several other Democratic politicians.

As long and dark as the road may seem for Democrats, Kelly reassured guests that members from both sides of the aisle, “get along better than people think.” She added that moderate Republicans could help in the long run, if they could stand up to the Tea Party and express how they really feel.

Kelly is one of 11 vice chairs on the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force led by Congressman Mike Thompson of California. These days people can avail the quick disconnect scope mount online.

“This topic is near and dear to my heart and it’s something I’ll never give up the fight for. Gun violence is a public health crisis,” she explained.

Kelly couldn’t help but set the record straight about the media reporting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave her contributions for her campaign. “Mayor Bloomberg didn’t know me from a hole in the wall. He did not give Robin Kelly $2 million. He did not get involved in the race until the very end. When we did finally met, it was months after I was in Congress.”

Congressman Bill Foster, who was in Naperville the day of the brunch to host a service academy nomination ceremony at the nearby Judd Kendall VFW Post, stopped by to show his support for Kelly and to give thanks to the members of DWDC.

Congressman Bill Foster

Retired AFSCME member Wall Kubon, along with Congressman Bill Foster, chat with DWDC member Kim Savage prior to Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s talk. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

“Democrats are wonderful, but they are not always the most organized, but this group here is a part of the Democratic Party that just works,” Foster explained. When questions turned to what details both Kelly and Foster could share about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP), Foster said his vote will depend on how it effects the good jobs in his district.

“The fair ground is how it nets out for good jobs in our district. If we replace a good manufacturing job with a not-so-good warehouse job — that’s not good,” he said.

Just because the TTP may be good for U.S. business profits, if it throws U.S. manufacturing and agriculture under the bus, “that’s not ok with me,” Foster explained.

Kelly acknowledged that the country needs companies to invest in the U.S., but she stressed it needs be on a level playing field. “I hear all the time from business owners in my district that we’re open to other countries, but other countries are not open to us,” she said.

House again approves Keystone XL, now it’s up to the White House

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Fox Valley Labor News
staff reports
Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015

keystone xl pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House voted Jan. 9 to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, setting the stage for a Senate vote this week and a face-off with the White House over final approval of the controversial pipeline.

The bill passed by a vote of 266 to 153 — more than enough to pass, but still not a veto-proof majority. This marked the first House vote on Keystone in the 114th Congress, though the lower chamber previously voted nine times to approve it. The Senate was expected to begin voting on its own Keystone approval legislation Jan. 12.

Democrats, for the most part, continued to oppose legislation that bypassed the executive decision-making process on Keystone XL. And they noted the White House has said it will veto the legislation.

Locally, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) voted against the bill to preserve environmental protections for Keystone Pipeline, adding that the Nebraska Supreme Court decision took a step in that direction.
Nebraska’s ruling cleared the way for the proposed pipeline’s route through the state. The Obama administration had been waiting for the

Nebraska ruling to render its own decision on the pipeline, which is still forthcoming.

Foster said he looked forward to the completion of the regulatory approval process for this project, yet he still voted ‘no.’

“However, I voted against this legislation because it would give Keystone XL an unnecessary exemption from the environmental permitting processes,” Foster explained.

After the Nebraska ruling became public, LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan released a statement saying he wanted President Obama to “immediately resume the National Interest Determination that he needlessly suspended last year and Democrats in Congress must stop all the excuses and end the shameful politics used to block Keystone.”

North America’s Building Trades Unions was pleased that a “bi-partisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives recognizes the potential for job creation, economic growth, and energy independence that will accrue through the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.”

It added that the project has been the most analyzed and studied infrastructure project in the history of our nation.

“The American public has long been clamoring for increased bi-partisan cooperation and accord. We express our hope that, once the Senate has approved this bill, President Obama embraces that sentiment as well and signs this legislation into law,” the North America’s Building Trades Unions added.

Congressman Foster also voted in favor of an amendment to require the project to pay into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, a fund which is used to clean up after pipeline oil spills and fires on U.S. soil. Unfortunately this amendment was defeated on a largely party-line basis.

“This legislation carves out special exemptions that would allow a Canadian company to cross the entire United States without complying with the environmental laws that U.S. energy companies abide by; without requiring that they pay into the oil spill liability trust fund; and without guaranteeing that any of the oil pumped through the Keystone pipeline would stay in the United States,” Foster added.

Labor leader O’Sullivan said Americans concerned about energy independence and working men and women eager to build our nation’s energy future are encouraged by this progress.
“It’s time to move forward to unlock energy and good construction careers,” he added.