Meet a New Member of the 113th Congress: Bill Foster (D-IL)

Inside HSCA examines new members of the 113^th Congress who have a background in healthcare or who could have an impact on the supply chain.

Physicist and businessman Bill Foster (D-IL) defeated Rep. Judy Biggert and was reelected to Congress in the Illinois 11^th District, which comprises Aurora, Joliet, Lisle and Naperville. Foster previously represented the Illinois 14^th District from 2008-2011 after winning a 2008 special election to replace former Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Foster worked for more than 20 years at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics, and emphasized the importance of investing in science and technology during the campaign.

“Investments in basic scientific research are among the highest return on investment of any that our society can make. As a scientist and successful businessman, [I believe] that keeping the technological pipeline full – from basic research, to technology development, to market driven deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies – is crucial to our country’s long term economic health,” said Foster on his campaign site.

Foster voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and said in a Chicago Tribune interview during his 2012 campaign against Biggert: “I’m proud of my vote, and I would be proud to do it again.”

During his previous one-term tenure in Congress, Foster served on the Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Foster has identified the House Energy and Commerce and Appropriations Committees as his best opportunities to increase funding for Illinois research laboratories during the 113^th Congress.