Bill Foster (Illinois)

Bill Foster (Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2013. His current term ends on January 3, 2025.

Foster (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Foster is also running for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 11th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Foster was assigned to the Committee on Financial Services.

Biography

Foster graduated from the University of Wisconsin and received a doctorate in physics from Harvard University. His career experience includes working as a physicist and business owner.

Below is an abbreviated outline of Foster's academic, professional, and political career:^[1]

2013-Present: U.S Representative from Illinois' 11th Congressional District
2008-2010: Representative U.S. House, Illinois, District 14
1990-2006: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), High-energy physicist and particle accelerator designer
1975-2007: Co-founded Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc

Committee assignments

U.S. House

2023-2024

Foster was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

2021-2022

Foster was assigned to the following committees:^[Source]

2017-2018

At the beginning of the 115th Congress, Foster was assigned to the following committees:^[2]

Committee on Financial Services

2015-2016

Foster served on the following committees:^[3]

2013-2014

Foster served on the following committees:^[4]^[5]

Committee on Financial Services
- Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises
- Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade

Key votes

See also: Key votes

Ballotpedia monitors legislation that receives a vote and highlights the ones that we consider to be key to understanding where elected officials stand on the issues. To read more about how we identify key votes, click here.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

The 118th United States Congress began on January 3, 2023, at which point Republicans held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-212), and Democrats held the majority in the U.S. Senate (51-49). Joe Biden (D) was the president and Kamala Harris (D) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 118th Congress, 2023

Vote

Bill and description

Status

Yea

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 22, 2023, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2024. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to pass the bill as amended by a Senate and House conference report.^[6]

Passed (310-118)

Nay

To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.

H.R. 185 (To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to nullify a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order restricting the entry of foreign citizens to the United States unless the individual was vaccinated against the coronavirus or attested they would take public health measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[7]

Passed (227-201)

Nay

Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023

The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to raise the federal debt limit before a June 5, 2023, deadline. The bill also sought to repeal certain green energy tax credits, increase domestic natural gas and oil production, expand work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and nullify President Joe Biden's (D) proposed student loan debt cancellation program. This bill was not taken up in the Senate, and the debt limit was instead raised through the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[8]

Passed (217-215)

Yea

Denouncing the horrors of socialism.

H.Con.Res. 9 (Denouncing the horrors of socialism.) was a resolution approved by the House of Representatives denouncing socialism and opposing the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[9]

Passed (328-86)

Nay

Lower Energy Costs Act

The Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to increase domestic energy production and exports by increasing the production of oil, natural gas, and coal, reducing permitting restrictions for pipelines, refineries, and other energy projects, and increase the production of minerals used in electronics, among other energy production-related policies. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[10]

Passed (225-204)

Nay

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".

H.J.Res. 30 (Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to "Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights".) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and vetoed by President Joe Biden (D) on March 20, 2023. This was Biden's first veto of his presidency. The resolution sought to nullify a Department of Labor rule that amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow retirement plans to consider certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in investment-related decisions. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[11] Click here to read more.

Passed (219-200)

Nay

Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.

H.J.Res. 7 (Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020.) was a joint resolution of disapproval under the terms of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on April 10, 2023. The resolution ended the national coronavirus state of emergency, which began on March 13, 2020. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[12] Click here to read more.

Passed (229-197)

Yea

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (H.R. 3746) was a bill passed by the 118th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 3, 2023. The bill raised the federal debt limit until January 2025. The bill also capped non-defense spending in fiscal year 2024, rescinded unspent coronavirus relief funding, rescinded some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) funding, enhanced work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF), simplified environmental reviews for energy projects, and ended the student loan debt repayment pause in August 2023. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[13] Click here to read more.

Passed (314-117)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Speaker of the House election (January 2023) - 15th vote

In January 2023, the House of Representatives held its regular election for Speaker of the House at the start of the 118th Congress. Voting began on January 3, and ended on January 7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was elected speaker of the House in a 216-212 vote during the 15th round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[14] Click here to read more.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) (216-212)

Yea

Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.

H.Res. 757 (Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[15] Click here to read more.

Passed (216-210)

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Speaker of the House election (October 2023) - 4th vote

In October 2023, following Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) removal as Speaker of the House, the House of Representatives held another election for the position. Voting began on October 17 and ended on October 25. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) was elected Speaker of the House in a 220-209 vote in the fourth round of voting. In order to elect a Speaker of the House, a majority of votes cast for a person by name was required.^[16] Click here to read more.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) (220-209)

Nay

Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.

H.Res. 918 (Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that formally authorized an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden (D). The inquiry focused on allegations that Biden used his influence as vice president from 2009 to 2017 to improperly profit from his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[17] Click here to read more.

Passed (221-212)

Yea

Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.

H.Res. 878 (Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives.) was a resolution passed by the House of Representatives that removed Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from office following a House Ethics Committee investigation that determined there was substantial evidence that Santos violated the law during his 2020 and 2022 campaigns. The resolution required a simple majority vote in the House.^[18]

Passed (311-114)

Key votes: Previous sessions of Congress

Key votes (click "show" to expand or "hide" to contract)

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023

The 117th United States Congress began on January 3, 2021 and ended on January 3, 2023. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (222-213), and the U.S. Senate had a 50-50 makeup. Democrats assumed control of the Senate on January 20, 2021, when President Joe Biden (D) and Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who acted as a tie-breaking vote in the chamber, assumed office. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 117th Congress, 2021-2023

Vote

Bill and description

Status

Yea

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) was a federal infrastructure bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on November 15, 2021. Among other provisions, the bill provided funding for new infrastructure projects and reauthorizations, Amtrak maintenance and development, bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy transmission and power infrastructure upgrades. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[19] Click here to read more.

Passed (228-206)

Yea

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 11, 2021, to provide economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[20] Click here to read more.

Passed (220-210)

Yea

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 16, 2022, to address climate change, healthcare costs, and tax enforcement. Key features of the bill included a $369 billion investment to address energy security and climate change, an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies, allowing Medicare to negotiate certain drug prices, a 15% corporate minimum tax, a 1% stock buyback fee, and enhanced Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement, and an estimated $300 billion deficit reduction from 2022-2031. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[21] Click here to read more.

Passed (220-207)

Yea

Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (H.R. 3617) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to decriminalize marijuana, establish studies of legal marijuana sales, tax marijuana imports and production, and establish a process to expunge and review federal marijuana offenses. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[22]

Passed (220-204)

Yea

For the People Act of 2021

The For the People Act of 2021 (H.R. 1) was a federal election law and government ethics bill approved by the House of Representatives. The Congressional Research Service said the bill would "expand voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It [would also limit] removing voters from voter rolls. ... Further, the bill [would address] campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices." The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[23] Click here to read more.

Passed (220-210)

Yea

Assault Weapons Ban of 2022

The Assault Weapons Ban of 2022 (H.R. 1808) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives that sought to criminalize the knowing import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of semiautomatic assault weapons (SAW) or large capacity ammunition feeding devices (LCAFD). The bill made exemptions for grandfathered SAWs and LCAFDs. It required a simple majority vote in the House.^[24]

Passed (217-213)

Yea

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (S. 1605) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 27, 2021, authorizing Department of Defense acitivities and programs for fiscal year 2022. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[25]

Passed (363-70)

Yea

James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022, authorizing Department of Defense activities and programs for fiscal year 2023. The bill required a 2/3 majority in the House to suspend rules and pass the bill as amended.^[26]

Passed (350-80)

Yea

American Dream and Promise Act of 2021

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 (H.R. 6) was an immigration bill approved by the House of Representatives that proposed a path to permanent residence status for unauthorized immigrants eligible for Temporary Protected Status or Deferred Enforced Departure, among other immigration-related proposals. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[27]

Passed (228-197)

Yea

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (S. 3373) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 10, 2022, that sought to address healthcare access, the presumption of service-connection, and research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[28]

Passed (342-88)

Yea

Chips and Science Act

The Chips and Science Act (H.R. 4346) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on August 9, 2022, which sought to fund domestic production of semiconductors and authorized various federal science agency programs and activities. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[29]

Passed (243-187)

Yea

Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021

The Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives. The bill proposed prohibiting governmental restrictions on the provision of and access to abortion services and prohibiting governments from issuing some other abortion-related restrictions. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[30]

Passed (218-211)

Yea

SAFE Banking Act of 2021

The SAFE Banking Act of 2021 (H.R. 1996) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives that proposed prohibiting federal regulators from penalizing banks for providing services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and defining proceeds from such transactions as not being proceeds from unlawful activity, among other related proposals. Since the House moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill in an expedited process, it required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.^[31]

Passed (321-101)

Yea

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. 2471) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on March 15, 2022, providing for the funding of federal agencies for the remainder of 2022, providing funding for activities related to Ukraine, and modifying or establishing various programs. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[32]

Passed (260-171)

Yea

Equality Act

The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that proposed prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system, among other related proposals. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[33]

Passed (224-206)

Yea

Respect for Marriage Act

The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404) was a bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 13, 2022. The bill codified the recognition of marriages between individuals of the same sex and of different races, ethnicities, or national origins, and provided that the law would not impact religious liberty or conscience protections, or provide grounds to compel nonprofit religious organizations to recognize same-sex marriages. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[34] Click here to read more.

Passed (258-169)

Yea

Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023

The Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 6833) was a bill approved by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on September 30, 2022. It provided for some fiscal year 2023 appropriations, supplemental funds for Ukraine, and extended several other programs and authorities. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[35]

Passed (230-201)

Yea

Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

The Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act (H.R. 7688) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to prohibit individuals from selling consumer fuels at excessive prices during a proclaimed energy emergency. It would have also required the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the price of gasoline was being manipulated. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[36]

Passed (217-207)

Yea

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 (H.R. 8) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to prohibit the transfer of firearms between private parties unless a licensed firearm vendor conducted a background check on the recipient. The bill also provided for certain exceptions to this requirement. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[37]

Passed (227-203)

Yea

Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act

The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was a federal elections bill approved by the House of Representatives and voted down by the Senate in a failed cloture vote that sought to, among other provisions, make Election Day a public holiday, allow for same-day voter registration, establish minimum early voting periods, and allow absentee voting for any reason, restrict the removal of local election administrators in federal elections, regulate congressional redistricting, expand campaign finance disclosure rules for some organizations, and amend the Voting Rights Act to require some states to obtain clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice before implementing new election laws. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[38] Click here to read more.

Passed (220-203)

Yea

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (S. 2938) was a firearm regulation and mental health bill passed by the 117th Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on June 25, 2022. Provisions of the bill included expanding background checks for individuals under the age of 21, providing funding for mental health services, preventing individuals who had been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or felony in dating relationships from purchasing firearms for five years, providing funding for state grants to implement crisis intervention order programs, and providing funding for community-based violence prevention initiatives. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[39] Click here to read more.

Passed (234-193)

Yea

Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

This was a resolution before the 117th Congress setting forth an article of impeachment saying that Donald Trump (R) incited an insurrection against the government of the United States on January 6, 2021. The House of Representatives approved the article of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of the charges. The article of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House.^[40] Click here to read more.

Passed (232-197)

Yea

Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022

The Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act was a bill passed by the 117th Congress in the form of an amendment to a year-end omnibus funding bill that was signed into law by President Joe Biden (D) on December 23, 2022. The bill changed the procedure for counting electoral votes outlined in the Electoral Count Act of 1887. Elements of the bill included specifying that the vice president's role at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes is ministerial, raising the objection threshold at the joint session of congress to count electoral votes to one-fifth of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, identifying governors as the single official responsible for submitting the certificate of ascertainment identifying that state’s electors, and providing for expedited judicial review of certain claims about states' certificates identifying their electors. The bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[41] Click here to read more.

Passed (225-201)

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

The 116th United States Congress began on January 9, 2019, and ended on January 3, 2021. At the start of the session, Democrats held the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives (235-200), and Republicans held the majority in the U.S. Senate (53-47). Donald Trump (R) was the president and Mike Pence (R) was the vice president. We identified the key votes below using Congress' top-viewed bills list and through marquee coverage of certain votes on Ballotpedia.

Key votes: 116th Congress, 2019-2021

Vote

Bill and description

Status

Yea

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020

The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (H.R. 1044) was a bill passed by the House of Representatives seeking to increase the cap on employment-based visas, establish certain rules governing such visas, and impose some additional requirements on employers hiring holders of such visas. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended.^[42]

Passed (365-65)

Yea

The Heroes Act

The HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to address the COVID-19 outbreak by providing $1,200 payments to individuals, extending and expanding the moratorium on some evictions and foreclosures, outlining requirements and establishing finding for contact tracing and COVID-19 testing, providing emergency supplemental appropriations to federal agencies for fiscal year 2020, and eliminating cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[43]

Passed (208-199)

Yea

For the People Act of 2019

The For the People Act of 2019 (H.R.1) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to protect election security, revise rules on campaign funding, introduce new provisions related to ethics, establish independent, nonpartisan redistricting commissions, and establish new rules on the release of tax returns for presidential and vice presidential candidates. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[44]

Passed (234-193)

Yea

CARES Act

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 27, 2020, that expanded benefits through the joint federal-state unemployment insurance program during the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation also included $1,200 payments to certain individuals, funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and funds for businesses, hospitals, and state and local governments. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.^[45]

Passed (419-6)

Yea

Equality Act

The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to ban discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity by expanding the definition of establishments that fall under public accomodation and prohibiting the denial of access to a shared facility that is in agreement with an indiviual's gender indenitity. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[46]

Passed (236-173)

Yea

Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019

The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) was a bill approved by the House that sought to ban firearm transfers between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[47]

Passed (240-190)

Yea

American Dream and Promise Act of 2019

The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to protect certain immigrants from removal proceedings and provide a path to permanent resident status by establishing streamlined procedures for permanant residency and canceling removal proceedings against certain qualifed individuals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[48]

Passed (237-187)

Yea

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (S. 1790) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, setting policies and appropriations for the Department of Defense. Key features of this bill include appropriations for research/development, procurement, military construction, and operation/maintenence, as well as policies for paid family leave, North Korea nuclear sanctions, limiting the use of criminal history in federal hiring and contracting, military housing privatization, and paid family leave for federal personnel. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[49]

Passed (377-48)

Yea

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on March 18, 2020, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing access to unemployment benefits and food assistance, increasing funding for Medicaid, providing free testing for COVID-19, and requiring employers to provide paid sick time to employees who cannot work due to COVID-19. The bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.^[50]

Passed (363-40)

Yea

Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (H.R. 1994) was a bill passed by the House Representatives that sought to change the requirements for employer provided retirement plans, IRAs, and other tax-favored savings accounts by modfying the requirements for things such as loans, lifetime income options, required minimum distributions, the eligibility rules for certain long-term, part-time employees, and nondiscrimination rules. The bill also sought to treat taxable non-tuition fellowship and stipend payments as compensation for the purpose of an IRA, repeal the maximum age for traditional IRA contributions, increase penalties for failing to file tax returns, allow penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans if a child is born or adopted, and expand the purposes for which qualified tuition programs may be used. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House. ^[51]

Passed (417-3)

Yea

Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act

The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3) was a bill approved by the House Representatives that sought to address the price of healthcare by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices for certain drugs, requiring drug manufactures to issue rebates for certain drugs covered under Medicare, requiring drug price transparency from drug manufacturers, expanding Medicare coverage, and providing funds for certain public health programs. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[52]

Passed (230-192)

Yea

Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on December 20, 2019, providing appropriations for federal agencies in fiscal year 2020. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[53]

Passed (297-120)

Yea

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019 (S. 1838) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump (R) on November 27, 2019, directing several federal departments to assess Hong Kong's unique treatment under U.S. law. Key features of the bill include directing the Department of State to report and certify annually to Congress as to whether Hong Kong is sufficiently autonomous from China to justify its unique treatment, and directing the Department of Commerce to report annually to Congress on China's efforts to use Hong Kong to evade U.S. export controls and sanctions. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.^[54]

Passed (417-1)

Yea

MORE Act of 2020

The MORE Act of 2020 (H.R. 3884) was a bill approved by the House of Representatives that sought to decriminalize marijuana by removing marijuana as a scheduled controlled substance and eliminating criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana. This bill required a simple majority vote from the House.^[55]

Passed (228-164)

Yea

Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 6, 2020, providing emergency funding to federal agencies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Key features of the bill include funding for vaccine research, small business loans, humanitarian assistance to affected foreign countries, emergency preparedness, and grants for public health agencies and organizations. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.^[56]

Passed (415-2)

Yea

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.J.Res. 31) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on February 15, 2019, providing approrations for Fiscal Year 2019. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House.^[57]

Passed (300 -128)

Yea

John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Doanld Trump on March 12, 2019. This bill sought to set provisions for federal land management and conservation by doing things such as conducting land exchanges and conveyances, establishing programs to respond to wildfires, and extending and reauthorizing wildlife conservation programs. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House.^[58]

Passed (363-62)

Yea

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (On passage)

The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.^[59]

Passed (335-78)

Yea

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Overcoming veto)

The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and vetoed by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020. Congress voted to override Trump's veto, and the bill became law on January 1, 2021. The bill set Department of Defense policies and appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Trump vetoed the bill due to disagreement with provisions related to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, the renaming of certain military installations, limits on emergency military construction fund usage, and limits on troop withdrawals. This bill required a simple majority vote in the House on passage, and a two-thirds majority vote in the House to override Trump's veto.^[60]

Passed (322-87)

Yea

Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S.24) was a bill passed by the 116th Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on January 16, 2019, that requires federal employees who were furloughed or compelled to work during a lapse in government funding to be compensated for that time. The bill also required those employees to be compensated as soon as the lapse in funding ends, irregardless of official pay date. This bill required a two-thirds majority vote in the House to suspend the rules and pass the bill.^[61]

Passed (411-7)

Yea

Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 1)

The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House. ^[62]

Guilty (230-197)

Yea

Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors. (Article 2)

The 2020 impeachment of Donald Trump (R) was a resolution before the 116th Congress to set forth two articles of impeachment saying that Trump abused his power and obstructed congress. The first article was related to allegations that Trump requested the Ukrainian government investigate former Vice President Joe Biden (D) and his son, Hunter Biden, in exchange for aid, and the second was related to Trump's response to the impeachment inquiry. The House of Representatives approved both articles of impeachment, and the Senate adjudged that Trump was not guilty of either charge. The articles of impeachment required a simple majority vote in the House. ^[63]

Guilty (229-198)

Key votes: 115th Congress, 2017-2018

For detailed information about each vote, click here.

Votes on domestic policy (click to expand)

Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (Conference report) (HR 2)

Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance through fiscal year 2023.^[64]

Voted Nay on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2 (second vote))

Bill Passed (213-211) on June 21, 2018

Proposed providing funding for commodity support, conservation, trade and international food aid, nutrition assistance, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, forestry, horticulture, and crop insurance. It also proposed modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as the food stamp program.^[65]

Voted Nay on: Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 (HR 4760)

Bill Failed (193-231) on June 21, 2018

Proposed funding a border wall, limiting legal immigration, a mandatory worker verification program, allowing DACA recipients to apply for legal status, and preventing separation of families at the border.^[66]

Voted Yea on: Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (HR 2)

Bill Passed (369-47) on December 12, 2018

Reauthorizes through FY2023 and modifies some Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.^[67]

Voted Nay on: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HR 36)

Bill Passed (237-189) on October 3, 2017

Proposed amending the federal criminal code to make it a crime for any person to perform or attempt to perform an abortion if the probable post-fertilization age of the fetus was 20 weeks or more. The bill provided exceptions for an abortion: (1) that was necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman, or (2) when the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest.^[68]

Voted Nay on: Kate's Law (HR 3004)

Bill Passed (257-167) on June 29, 2017

Proposed increasing criminal penalties for individuals in the country illegally who were convicted of certain crimes, deported, and then re-entered the U.S. illegally.^[69]

Voted Nay on: No Sanctuary for Criminals Act (HR 3003)

Bill Passed (228-195) on June 29, 2017

Proposed withholding federal funds from states and localities that chose not to follow federal immigration laws.^[70]

Voted Nay on: American Health Care Act of 2017 (HR 1628)

Bill passed (217-213) on May 4, 2017

Proposed modifying the budgetary and fiscal provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.^[71]

Votes on economic affairs and regulations (click to expand)

Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 6157)

Bill Passed (361-61) on September 26, 2018

Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.^[72]

Voted Yea on: Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019 (Conference report) (HR 5895)

Bill Passed (377-20) on September 13, 2018

Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.^[73]

Voted Yea on: Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 6157)

Bill Passed (359-49) on June 28, 2018

Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Education.^[74]

Voted Nay on: Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 (HR 5895)

Bill Passed (235-179) on June 8, 2018

Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for the Department of Energy, water resources, the legislative branch, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, among other programs.^[75]

Voted Yea on: Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (S 2155)

Bill Passed (258-159) on May 22, 2018

Proposed exempting some banks from the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act^[76]

Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1625)

Bill Passed (256-167) on March 22, 2018

Proposed providing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes.^[77]

Voted Nay on: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (HR 1892)

Bill Passed (240-186) on February 9, 2018

Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.^[78]

Voted Nay on: Further Extension Of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1892)

Bill Passed (245-182) on February 6, 2018

Proposed providing appropriations through March 23, 2018.^[79]

Voted Yea on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

Bill Passed (266-150) on January 22, 2018

Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 8, 2018.^[80]

Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. (HR 195)

Bill Passed (230-197) on January 18, 2018

Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through February 16, 2018.^[81]

Did not vote on: Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 1370)

Bill Passed (231-188) on December 21, 2017

Proposed providing further continuing appropriations through January 19, 2018.^[82]

Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

Bill Passed (227-203) on December 19, 2017

Proposed providing for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.^[83]

Voted Nay on: Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes (HJ Res 123)

Bill Passed (235-193) on December 7, 2017

Proposed funding the government until December 22, 2017.^[84]

Voted Nay on: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (HR 1)

Bill Passed (227-205) on November 16, 2017

Proposed amending the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses.^[85]

Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

Bill Passed (216-212) on October 26, 2017

Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027. (This bill proposed adopting the Senate's budget resolution.)^[86]

Voted Nay on: Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027. (H Con Res 71)

Bill Passed (219-206) on October 5, 2017

Proposed establishing the congressional budget for the federal government for FY2018 and setting forth budgetary levels for FY2019-FY2027.^[87]

Voted Nay on: Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3354)

Bill Passed (211-198) on September 14, 2017

Proposed providing FY2018 appropriations for the federal government. It combined 12 appropriations bills.^[88]

Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (Included amendments to suspend the debt ceiling and fund the government) (HR 601)

Bill Passed (316-90) on September 8, 2017

Proposed suspending the debt ceiling and funding the government until December 8, 2017, and providing funding for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief efforts.^[89]

Voted Yea on: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 601)

Bill Passed (419-3) on September 6, 2017

Proposed providing $7.85 billion for disaster relief requirements, including response and recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey.^[90]

Voted Nay on: Financial CHOICE Act of 2017 (HR 10)

Bill passed (233-186) on June 8, 2017

Proposed amending the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, among other acts.^[91]

Voted Yea on: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (HR 244)

Bill passed (309-118) on May 3, 2017

Proposed a $1.2 trillion budget to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2017.^[92]

Votes on foreign policy and national security issues (click to expand)

Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (HR 5515)

Bill Passed (351-66) on May 24, 2018

Proposed authorizing FY2019 appropriations and policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities^[93]

Voted Nay on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 695)

Bill Passed (250-166) on January 30, 2018

Proposed providing appropriations for military functions administered by the Department of Defense and for other purposes, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018.^[94]

Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018—Conference report (HR 2810)

Bill Passed (356-70) on November 14, 2017

Proposed authorizing FY2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths.^[95]

Voted Nay on: Make America Secure Appropriations Act, 2018 (HR 3219)

Bill Passed (235-192) on July 27, 2017

Proposed making appropriations for defense, military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Legislative Branch, energy and water development, and for other purposes for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2018.^[96]

Voted Yea on: Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (HR 3364)

Bill Passed (419-3) on July 25, 2017

Proposed providing congressional review and measures to counter aggression by the governments of Iran, the Russian Federation, and North Korea, and for other purposes.^[97]

Voted Yea on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180, second vote)

Bill Passed (380-35) on July 28, 2017

Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.^[98]

Voted Nay on: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 3180)

Bill Failed (241-163) on July 24, 2017

Proposed authorizing appropriations for fiscal year 2018 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes.^[99]

Voted Yea on: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (HR 2810)

Bill Passed (344-81) on July 14, 2017

Proposed authorizing fiscal year 2018 appropriations and setting forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It did not provide budget authority.^[100]

Voted Yea on: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017 (HR 1301)

Bill passed (371-48) on March 8, 2017

The $577.9 billion fiscal year 2017 defense spending bill proposed $516.1 billion in base budget funding and $61.8 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations/ Global War on Terrorism funding.^[101]

114th Congress

The first session of the 114th Congress enacted into law six out of the 2,616 introduced bills (0.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 1.3 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the first session. In the second session, the 114th Congress enacted 133 out of 3,159 introduced bills (4.2 percent). Comparatively, the 113th Congress had 7.0 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.^[102]^[103] For more information pertaining to Foster's voting record in the 114th Congress, please see the below sections.^[104]

Economic and fiscal

Trade Act of 2015

See also: The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, 2015

Trade adjustment assistance
On June 12, 2015, the House rejected the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015—by a vote of 126-302. Trade adjustment assistance (TAA) is a federal program providing American workers displaced by foreign trade agreements with job training and services. The measure was packaged with trade promotion authority (TPA), also known as fast-track authority. TPA is a legislative procedure that allows Congress to define "U.S. negotiating objectives and spells out a detailed oversight and consultation process for during trade negotiations. Under TPA, Congress retains the authority to review and decide whether any proposed U.S. trade agreement will be implemented," according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Foster was one of 40 Democrats to vote in favor of TAA.^[105]^[106]
Trade promotion authority
On June 12, 2015, the House passed the trade promotion authority (TPA) measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015 —by a vote of 219-211. TPA gives the president fast-track authority to negotiate trade agreements sent to Congress without the opportunity for amendment or filibuster. Although the House approved TPA, it was a largely symbolic vote given the measure was part of a package trade bill including trade adjustment assistance (TAA), which was rejected earlier the same day. Foster was one of 157 Democrats to vote against the measure.^[107]^[108]
Trade promotion authority second vote
After the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) and trade promotion authority (TPA) did not pass the House together on June 12, 2015, representatives voted to authorize TPA alone as an amendment to HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—on June 18, 2015. The amendment passed by a vote of 218-208, with all voting members of the House maintaining his or her original position on TPA except for Ted Yoho (R-Fla.). Foster was one of 158 Democrats to vote against the amendment.^[109]^[110]
Trade adjustment assistance second vote
The House passed HR 1295—the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015—on June 25, 2015, by a vote of 286-138. The Senate packaged trade adjustment assistance (TAA) in this bill after the House rejected the TAA measure in HR 1314—the Trade Act of 2015. Along with trade promotion authority (TPA), which Congress passed as part of HR 2146—the Defending Public Safety Employees' Retirement Act—TAA became law on June 29, 2015. Foster was one of 175 Democrats to vote in favor of HR 1295.^[111]^[112]

Defense spending authorization

On May 15, 2015, the House passed HR 1735—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 269-151. The bill "authorizes FY2016 appropriations and sets forth policies for Department of Defense (DOD) programs and activities, including military personnel strengths. It does not provide budget authority, which is provided in subsequent appropriations legislation." Foster voted with 40 Democrats and 228 Republicans to approve the bill.^[113] The Senate passed the bill on June 18, 2015, by a vote of 71-25. President Barack Obama vetoed the bill on October 22, 2015.^[114]

On November 5, 2015, the House passed S 1356—the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016—by a vote of 370-58. The second version of the $607 billion national defense bill included $5 billion in cuts to match what was approved in the budget and language preventing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military prison.^[115]^[116] Foster voted with 134 other Democrats and 235 Republicans to approve the bill.^[117] On November 10, 2015, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 91-3, and President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 25, 2015.^[118]

2016 Budget proposal

On April 30, 2015, the House voted to approve SConRes11, a congressional budget proposal for fiscal year 2016, by a vote of 226-197. The non-binding resolution was designed to create 12 appropriations bills to fund the government. All 183 Democrats who voted, including Foster, voted against the resolution.^[119]^[120]^[121]

2015 budget

On October 28, 2015, the House passed HR 1314—the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015—by a vote of 266-167. The bill increased military and domestic spending levels and suspended the debt ceiling until March 2017.^[122] Foster voted with 186 Democrats and 79 Republicans in favor of the bill.^[123] It passed the Senate on October 30, 2015.^[124] President Barack Obama signed it into law on November 2, 2015.

Foreign Affairs

Iran nuclear deal

See also: Iran nuclear agreement, 2015

On May 14, 2015, the House approved HR 1191—the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 400-25. The bill required President Barack Obama to submit the details of the nuclear deal with Iran for congressional review. Congress had 60 days to review the deal and vote to approve, disapprove, or take no action on the deal. During the review period, sanctions on Iran could not be lifted. Foster voted with 176 Democrats to approve the bill.^[125]^[126]

Approval of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
On September 11, 2015, the House rejected HR 3461—To approve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signed at Vienna on July 14, 2015, relating to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 162-269. The legislation proposed approving the nuclear agreement with Iran. Foster voted with 161 Democrats for the bill.^[127]^[128]

Suspension of Iran sanctions relief
On September 11, 2015, the House approved HR 3460—To suspend until January 21, 2017, the authority of the President to waive, suspend, reduce, provide relief from, or otherwise limit the application of sanctions pursuant to an agreement related to the nuclear program of Iran—by a vote of 247-186. HR 3460 prohibited "the President, prior to January 21, 2017, from: limiting the application of specified sanctions on Iran or refraining from applying any such sanctions; or removing a foreign person (including entities) listed in Attachments 3 or 4 to Annex II of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) from the list of designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the Department of the Treasury." Foster voted with 185 Democrats against the bill.^[129]^[130]

Presidential non-compliance of section 2
On September 10, 2015, the House passed H Res 411—Finding that the President has not complied with section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015—by a vote of 245-186. Section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 required the president to submit all materials related to the nuclear agreement for congressional review. House Republicans introduced the resolution because two agreements between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran were not submitted to Congress. Foster voted with 185 Democrats against the resolution.^[131]^[132]

Export-Import Bank

On October 27, 2015, the House passed HR 597—the Export-Import Bank Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2015—by a vote of 313-118. The bill proposed reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and allowing it to resume offering assistance in the form of loans and insurance to foreign companies that wanted to buy U.S. goods.^[133] Foster voted with 185 Democrats and 127 Republicans in favor of the bill.^[134]

Domestic

USA FREEDOM Act of 2015

On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 2048—the Uniting and Strengthening America by Fulfilling Rights and Ensuring Effective Discipline Over Monitoring Act of 2015 or the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015—by a vote of 338-88. The legislation revised HR 3199—the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005—by ending the bulk collection of metadata under Sec. 215 of the act, requiring increased reporting from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, and requiring the use of "a specific selection term as the basis for national security letters that request information from wire or electronic communication service providers, financial institutions, or consumer reporting agencies." Foster voted with 141 Democrats and 196 Republicans to approve the legislation. It became law on June 2, 2015.^[135]^[136]

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

On May 13, 2015, the House passed HR 36—the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act—by a vote of 242-184. The bill proposed prohibiting abortions from being performed after a fetus was determined to be 20 weeks or older. The bill proposed exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Foster voted with 179 Democrats against the bill.^[137]^[138]

Cyber security

On April 23, 2015, the House passed HR 1731—the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 2015—by a vote of 355-63. The bill proposed creating an information sharing program that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. It also proposed including liability protections for companies.^[139] Foster voted with 134 Democrats and 220 Republicans to approve the bill.^[140]

On April 22, 2015, the House passed HR 1560—the Protecting Cyber Networks Act—by a vote of 307-116.^[141] The bill proposed procedures that would allow federal agencies and private entities to share information about cyber threats. Foster voted with 104 Democrats and 202 Republicans in favor of the bill.^[142]

Immigration

On November 19, 2015, the House passed HR 4038—the American SAFE Act of 2015—by a vote of 289-137.^[143] The bill proposed instituting additional screening processes for refugees from Iraq and Syria who applied for admission to the U.S. Foster voted with 134 Democrats and two Republicans against the bill.^[144]

113th Congress

The second session of the 113th Congress enacted into law 224 out of the 3215 introduced bills (7 percent). Comparatively, the 112th Congress had 4.2 percent of introduced bills enacted into law in the second session.^[145] For more information pertaining to Foster's voting record in the 113th Congress, please see the below sections.^[146]

National security

DHS Appropriations

Foster voted against HR 2217 - the DHS Appropriations Act of 2014. The bill passed the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 245 - 182 and was largely along party lines.^[147]

Keystone Pipeline Amendment

Foster voted against House Amendment 69, which would have amended HR 3 to "require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, conduct a study of the vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL pipeline to a terrorist attack and certify that necessary protections have been put in place." The amendment failed on May 22, 2013, with a vote of 176 - 239 and was largely along party lines.^[147]

CISPA (2013)

Foster voted in favor of HR 624 - the CISPA (2013). The bill passed the House on April 18, 2013, with a vote of 288 - 127. The bill permitted federal intelligence agencies to share cybersecurity intelligence and information with private entities and utilities.^[148] The bill was largely supported by Republicans, but divided the Democratic Party.^[147]

NDAA

Foster voted in support of HR 1960 - the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. The bill passed the House on June 14, 2013, with a vote of 315 - 108. Both parties were somewhat divided on the vote.^[147]

Economy

Farm bill

On January 29, 2014, the U.S. House approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013, H.R. 2642, also known as the Farm Bill.^[149] The bill passed by a vote of 251-166. The nearly 1,000-page bill reformed and continued various programs of the Department of Agriculture through 2018. The $1 trillion bill expanded crop insurance for farmers by $7 billion over the next decade and created new subsidies for rice and peanut growers that would kick in when prices drop.^[150]^[151] However, cuts to the food stamp program cut an average of $90 per month for 1.7 million people in 15 states.^[151] Foster voted with 88 other Democratic representatives in favor of the bill.

2014 Budget

On January 15, 2014, the Republican-run House approved H.R. 3547, a $1.1 trillion spending bill to fund the government through September 30, 2014.^[152]^[153] The House voted 359-67 for the 1,582 page bill, with 64 Republicans and three Democrats voting against the bill.^[153] The omnibus package included 12 annual spending bills to fund federal operations.^[154] It included a 1 percent increase in the paychecks of federal workers and military personnel, a $1 billion increase in Head Start funding for early childhood education, reduced funding to the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, and the protection of the Affordable Care Act from any drastic cuts. Foster joined with the majority of the Democratic party and voted in favor of the bill.^[152]^[153]

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.^[155] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.^[156] Foster voted against the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.^[157]

The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.^[158] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Foster voted for HR 2775.^[159]

Immigration

Morton Memos Prohibition

Foster voted against House Amendment 136 - Prohibits the Enforcement of the Immigration Executive Order. The amendment was adopted by the House on June 6, 2013, with a vote of 224 - 201. The purpose of the amendment as stated on the official text is to "prohibit the use of funds to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the Morton Memos." These memos would have granted administrative amnesty to certain individuals residing in the United States without legal status. The vote largely followed party lines.^[147]

Healthcare

Healthcare Reform Rules

Foster voted against House Amendment 450 - Requires Congressional Approval for Any Rules Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The amendment was adopted by the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 227-185. The amendment requires all changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act be approved by Congress before taking effect. The vote was largely along party lines.^[147]

Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act

Foster voted against HR 2009 - Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act of 2013. The bill passed through the House on August 2, 2013, with a vote of 232-185. The bill would prevent the IRS and Treasury Secretary from enforcing the powers provided to them in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote largely followed party lines.^[147]

Social issues

Amash amendment

Foster voted against House Amendment 413 - Prohibits the National Security Agency from Collecting Records Under the Patriot Act. The amendment failed on July 4, 2013, by a vote of 205-217. The amendment would have prohibited the collection of records by the National Security Agency under the Patriot Act. Both parties were split on the vote.^[147]

Previous congressional sessions

Specific votes

Rep. Foster voted for TARP.^[160] According to a Gallup poll from September 13, 2010, 61 percent of Americans disapproved of TARP, while 37 percent approved.^[161]

Foster also supported the auto bailout.^[162] As of September 13, 2010, 56 percent of Americans disapproved of the auto bailout, while 43 percent supported it.^[163]

In addition, Rep. Foster voted for the stimulus bill.^[164] A total of 57 percent of U.S. voters believed that the stimulus had hurt the economy (36 percent) or had no impact (21 percent). Only 38 percent believed the stimulus helped the economy.^[165]

Foster also voted in favor of the "Cash for Clunkers" bill.^[166] According to a June 2009 Rasmussen Reports poll, 54 percent of likely U.S. voters opposed Cash for Clunkers, while 35 percent supported it.^[167]

Finally, Foster voted in favor of the health care reform bill.^[168] About 57 percent of likely voters at least somewhat favored repeal of the health care reform bill, including 46 percent who strongly favored repeal. Only 35 percent of likely voters opposed repeal. A total of 51 percent of likely voters believed the health care reform bill would be bad for the country, while 36 percent believed it would be beneficial.^[169]

Issues

Economy

Pay during government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

Foster said in a statement on October 1, 2013, that “Until Congress ends this irresponsible shutdown, I will donate my pay to charity.”^[170]

Elections

2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated. Before the candidate filing deadline passes, Ballotpedia will separate these candidates into their respective primaries as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster is running in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Bill Foster (D)

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2024

Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Democratic primary)

Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 19 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Jerry Evans and Anna Schiefelbein in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster (D)	55.6	199,825
	Jerry Evans (R)	44.4	159,630
	Anna Schiefelbein (Independent) (Write-in)	0.1	229

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 359,684
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Qasim Rashid in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 19, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster	76.6	35,159
	Qasim Rashid	23.4	10,754

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,913
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Jerry Evans defeated Susan Hathaway-Altman and Kent Mercado in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 19, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Jerry Evans	50.7	17,814
	Susan Hathaway-Altman	37.1	13,032
	Kent Mercado	12.3	4,312

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 35,158
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Alec Martin (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Foster in this election.

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Catalina Lauf and Donald Wagner in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster (D)	56.5	149,172
	Catalina Lauf (R)	43.5	115,069
	Donald Wagner (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 264,241
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Foster	100.0	44,096

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 44,096
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on June 28, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Catalina Lauf	31.0	15,360
	Jerry Evans	22.5	11,158
	Mark Carroll	20.1	9,955
	Susan Hathaway-Altman	12.1	6,017
	Cassandra Tanner Miller	7.5	3,730
	Andrea Heeg	6.7	3,334

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 49,554
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2020

Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Republican primary)

Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 17 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Rick Laib and Jon Harlson in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 3, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster (D)	63.3	194,557
	Rick Laib (R)	36.7	112,807
	Jon Harlson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	13

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 307,377
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Rachel Ventura in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 17, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster	58.7	46,116
	Rachel Ventura	41.3	32,422

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 78,538 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Rick Laib defeated Krishna Bansal in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 17, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rick Laib	54.1	12,474
	Krishna Bansal	45.9	10,603

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 23,077 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster defeated Nick Stella in the general election for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on November 6, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Bill Foster (D)	63.8	145,407
	Nick Stella (R)	36.2	82,358

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 227,765 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Incumbent Bill Foster advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 20, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bill Foster	100.0	49,762

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 49,762
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11

Nick Stella defeated Connor VlaKancic in the Republican primary for U.S. House Illinois District 11 on March 20, 2018.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Nick Stella	79.3	23,992
	Connor VlaKancic	20.7	6,253

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 30,245
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Illinois' 11th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Incumbent Bill Foster (D) defeated Tonia Khouri (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Foster ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 15, 2016, while Tonia Khouri defeated Nick Stella and Herman White to win the Republican nomination.^[171]^[172]^[173]

**U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2016**
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Foster Incumbent	60.4%	166,578
	Republican	Tonia Khouri	39.6%	108,995
Total Votes				275,573
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

**U.S. House, Illinois District 11 Republican Primary, 2016**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Tonia Khouri	36.9%	22,859
Nick Stella	36.3%	22,489
Herman White	26.7%	16,536
Total Votes		61,884
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections

2014

See also: Illinois' 11th Congressional District elections, 2014

Foster ran for re-election to the U.S. House in 2014. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 18, 2014.^[174] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

**U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2014**
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Foster Incumbent	53.5%	93,436
	Republican	Darlene Senger	46.5%	81,335
Total Votes				174,771
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections Official Results

2012

See also: Illinois' 11th Congressional District elections, 2012

Foster defeated Republican candidate Judy Biggert for the open seat.^[175] Foster ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Illinois' 11th District. Foster ran on the Democratic ticket.^[176]

Foster defeated candidates James Hickey and Juan Thomas in the Democratic primary on March 20, 2012.^[177] Judy Biggert ran unopposed in the Republican primary.^[177] Foster defeated Biggert in the general election on November 6, 2012.

**U.S. House, Illinois District 11 General Election, 2012**
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Foster	58.6%	148,928
	Republican	Judy Biggert Incumbent	41.4%	105,348
Total Votes				254,276
Source: Illinois Board of Elections "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals"

**U.S. House, Illinois District 11 Democratic Primary, 2012**
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Bill Foster	58.5%	12,126
Juan Thomas	25.1%	5,212
Jim Hickey	16.4%	3,399
Total Votes		20,737

To view more details about the 2012 election, click [show] to expand the section.

Debate

In a debate held against Judy Biggert on Saturday October 13, 2012, candidates went back and forth on careers, voting histories and choices made in office. While both sides made accusations that the other did not support the district in certain ways or made bad choices, both agreed on certain areas which needed continued help. Budget concerns and Medicare were the main topics of debate between the two candidates.^[178]

Full history

To view the full congressional electoral history for Bill Foster, click [show] to expand the section.

2010

On November 2, 2010, Randy Hultgren won election to the United States House. He defeated Bill Foster (D), Daniel J. Kairis (G) and Doug Marks (I) in the general election.^[179]

U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Randy Hultgren	51.3%	112,369
	Democratic	Bill Foster incumbent	45%	98,645
	Green	Daniel J. Kairis	3.6%	7,949
	Independent	Doug Marks	0%	50
Total Votes				219,013

2008

On November 4, 2008, Bill Foster won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Jim Oberweis (R) in the general election.^[180]

U.S. House, Illinois District 14 General Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Foster incumbent	57.7%	185,404
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	42.3%	135,653
Total Votes				321,057

U.S. House, Illinois District 14 Special Election, 2008
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Foster	52.5%	52,205
	Republican	Jim Oberweis	47.5%	47,180
Total Votes				99,385
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, "Election Results: 2008 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION," accessed October 28, 2021

Campaign themes

2026

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2016

The following issues were listed on Foster's campaign website. For a full list of campaign themes, click here.

“

Economic Growth: Democrats and Republicans agree on the importance of economic growth to our nation's future, but they disagree on how to best achieve that growth. As a scientist, Bill Foster looks at the facts. The last three presidents (Clinton, Bush, Obama) took office with strong majorities in Congress that enabled them to put in place the policies that they believed would result in strong economic growth. The results are clear: Democratic policies produced consistently stronger economic growth, while Republican policies drove us into debt and wrecked our economy.

Creating Jobs: Recent history shows that America knows how to create jobs – if the economy is competently managed. Over 22 million jobs were created in the 8 years from March 1993 to March 2001 – the best 8-year period of continuous job creation in our nation’s history. In contrast, during the next 8 years from March 2001 through March 2009, less than zero jobs were created - the worst 8-year record for job loss in our nation’s history. Our recovery is beginning by rebalancing our economy and returning to the policies that resulted in the strong economic growth of the 1990’s.

Reviving American Manufacturing: As a businessman who started a manufacturing company that now provides hundreds of good-paying jobs right here in the Midwest, nothing is more important to Bill Foster than the health of manufacturing in America. In the long run, a country can only consume as much as it produces – and Bill knows we need to see “Made in America” again.

The Financial Crisis: The financial crisis of 2008 cost our economy 8 million jobs and cost American families more than 17 Trillion dollars of net worth. Bill Foster believes that emergency intervention was required to avoid another Depression, but that it will take time to repair the damage caused by a decade of mismanagement. This means restoring fiscal discipline to our government, rebalancing our economy, improving the health of U.S. manufacturing, and reforming Wall Street to prevent a crisis like this from ever happening again.

Reforming Wall Street: The financial crisis of 2008 destroyed millions of jobs and crushed the retirement savings of American families. There is no higher priority than making sure that we never face such a crisis again. As a businessman with a background in manufacturing and the real economy, Bill Foster recognizes that an efficient and well-regulated financial services sector is essential to our economic growth. As a member of the Financial Services Committee, Bill played a strong role in crafting legislation that will prevent the irresponsible practices that led to this crisis.

^[181]

”

—Bill Foster's campaign website, http://www.billfoster.com/issues/

2012

Foster's major campaign themes included:^[182]

Moving the Economy Forward
Creating Jobs
Reviving American Manufacturing
Reforming Wall Street
Fiscal Responsibility
Energy that is Safe, Secure, and Affordable
Healthcare
Science and Technology
Education

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Bill Foster
Endorsee	Election	Stage	Outcome
Kamala D. Harris ^source (D, Working Families Party)	President of the United States (2024)	Primary	Lost General
Joe Biden ^source (D, Working Families Party)	President of the United States (2020)	Primary	Won General
Hillary Clinton ^source (D)	President of the United States (2016)	Primary	Lost General

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Bill Foster campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Illinois District 11	Won general	$3,243,219	$2,408,398
2022	U.S. House Illinois District 11	Won general	$3,332,177	$6,263,262
2020	U.S. House Illinois District 11	Won general	$2,418,561	$1,861,113
2018	U.S. House Illinois District 11	Won general	$2,658,954	$1,767,982
2016	U.S. House, Illinois District 11	Won	$2,883,644	N/A**
2014	U.S. House (Illinois, District 11)	Won	$2,871,395	N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Personal Gain Index

See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)

The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:

PGI: Change in net worth

See also: Changes in Net Worth of U.S. Senators and Representatives (Personal Gain Index) and Net worth of United States Senators and Representatives

Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Foster's net worth as of 2012 was estimated between $6,666,020 and $28,765,000. That averages to $17,715,510, which is higher than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2012 of $5,700,168.36. Foster ranked as the 36th most wealthy representative in 2012.^[183] Between 2007 and 2012, Foster's calculated net worth^[184] decreased by an average of 5 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.^[185]

Bill Foster Yearly Net Worth
Year	Average Net Worth
2007	$23,956,751
2012	$17,715,510
Growth from 2007 to 2012:	−26%
Average annual growth:	−5%^[186]
Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.^[187]

The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.

PGI: Donation Concentration Metric

See also: The Donation Concentration Metric (U.S. Congress Personal Gain Index)

Filings required by the Federal Election Commission report on the industries that give to each candidate. Using campaign filings and information calculated by OpenSecrets.org, Ballotpedia calculated the percentage of donations by industry received by each incumbent over the course of his or her career (or 1989 and later, if elected prior to 1988). Foster received the most donations from individuals and PACs employed by the Education industry.

From 2007-2014, 26.4 percent of Foster's career contributions came from the top five industries as listed below.^[188]

Bill Foster (Illinois) Campaign Contributions
Total Raised	$14,100,554
Total Spent	$12,708,834
Top five industries that contributed to campaign committee
Education	$1,204,136
Lawyers/Law Firms	$882,444
Retired	$595,147
Securities & Investment	$559,479
Civil Servants/Public Officials	$480,732
% total in top industry	8.54%
% total in top two industries	14.8%
% total in top five industries	26.4%

Analysis

Ideology and leadership

See also: GovTrack's Political Spectrum & Legislative Leadership ranking

Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Foster was a "rank-and-file Democrat," as of July 29, 2014. This was the same rating Foster received in June 2013.^[189]

Like-minded colleagues

The website OpenCongress tracks the voting records of each member to determine with whom he or she votes most and least often. The results include a member from each party.^[190]

Foster most often votes with:

Foster least often votes with:

National Journal vote ratings

See also: National Journal vote ratings

Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year.

2013

Foster ranked 154th in the liberal rankings in 2013.^[191]

2012

Information on 2012 vote rating is unavailable.

Lifetime voting record

See also: Lifetime voting records of United States Senators and Representatives

According to the website GovTrack, Foster missed 31 of 3,953 roll call votes from March 2008 to September 2015. This amounted to 0.8 percent, which was lower than the median of 2.2 percent among representatives as of September 2015.^[192]

Voting with party

The website OpenCongress tracks how often members of Congress vote with the majority of the chamber caucus.

2014

Foster voted with the Democratic Party 84.9 percent of the time, which ranked 177th among the 204 House Democratic members as of July 2014.^[193]

2013

Foster voted with the Democratic Party 89.1 percent of the time, which ranked 174th among the 201 House Democratic members as of June 2013.^[194]

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Officeholder

U.S. House Illinois District 11

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Adam Kinzinger (R)	U.S. House Illinois District 11 2013-Present	Succeeded by -
Preceded by -	U.S. House Illinois District 14 2008-2010	Succeeded by Randy Hultgren (R)

[show]

Illinois' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tammy Duckworth (D)

Dick Durbin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jonathan Jackson (D)

District 2

Robin Kelly (D)

District 3

Delia Ramirez (D)

District 4

Jesus Garcia (D)

District 5

Mike Quigley (D)

District 6

Sean Casten (D)

District 7

Danny Davis (D)

District 8

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D)

District 9

Jan Schakowsky (D)

District 10

Brad Schneider (D)

District 11

Bill Foster (D)

District 12

Mike Bost (R)

District 13

Nikki Budzinski (D)

District 14

Lauren Underwood (D)

District 15

Mary Miller (R)

District 16

Darin LaHood (R)

District 17

Eric Sorensen (D)

Democratic Party (16)

Republican Party (3)

[1] National Journal, "Illinois, 11th House District," accessed November 6, 2012

[2] U.S. House Clerk, "Official Alphabetical List of the House of Representatives of the United States One Hundred Fifteenth Congress," accessed February 2, 2017

[3] U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Clerk, "Committee Information," accessed February 18, 2015

[4] CQ.com, "House Committee Rosters for the 113th Congress," accessed March 3, 2013

[5] U.S. House of Representatives, "Committee Assignments," accessed March 29, 2014

[6] Congress.gov, "H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024," accessed February 23, 2024

[7] Congress.gov, "H.R.185 - To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes." accessed February 23, 2024

[8] Congress.gov, "H.R.2811 - Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024

[9] Congress.gov, "H.Con.Res.9 - Denouncing the horrors of socialism." accessed February 23, 2024

[10] Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - Lower Energy Costs Act," accessed February 23, 2024

[11] Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.30 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Labor relating to 'Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights'." accessed February 23, 2024

[12] Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.7 - Relating to a national emergency declared by the President on March 13, 2020." accessed February 23, 2024

[13] Congress.gov, "H.R.3746 - Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023," accessed February 23, 2024

[14] Congress.gov, "Roll Call 20," accessed February 23, 2024

[15] Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant.," accessed February 23, 2024

[16] Congress.gov, "Roll Call 527," accessed February 23, 2024

[17] Congress.gov, "H.Res.757 - Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant." accessed February 23, 2024

[18] Congress.gov, "H.Res.878 - Providing for the expulsion of Representative George Santos from the United States House of Representatives." accessed February 23, 2024

[19] Congress.gov, "H.R.3684 - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act," accessed April 15, 2022

[20] Congress.gov, "H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022

[21] Congress.gov, "H.R.5376 - Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023

[22] Congress.gov, "H.R.3617 - Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[23] Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - For the People Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022

[24] Congress.gov, "H.R.1808 - Assault Weapons Ban of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023

[25] Congress.gov, "S.1605 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022," accessed April 15, 2022

[26] Congress.gov, "H.R.7776 - James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023," accessed January 20, 2023

[27] Congress.gov, "H.R.6 - American Dream and Promise Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022

[28] Congress.gov, "S.3373 - Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022," accessed January 20, 2023

[29] Congress.gov, "H.R.4346 - Chips and Science Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[30] Congress.gov, "H.R.3755 - Women's Health Protection Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022

[31] Congress.gov, "H.R.1996 - SAFE Banking Act of 2021," accessed April 15, 2022

[32] Congress.gov, "H.R.2471 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022," accessed January 20, 2023

[33] Congress.gov, "H.R.5 - Equality Act," accessed April 15, 2022

[34] Congress.gov, "H.R.8404 - Respect for Marriage Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[35] Congress.gov, "H.R.6833 - Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023

[36] Congress.gov, "H.R.7688 - Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[37] Congress.gov, "H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021," accessed January 20, 2023

[38] Congress.gov, "H.R.5746 - Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[39] Congress.gov, "S.2938 - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act," accessed January 20, 2023

[40] Congress.gov, "H.Res.24 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.," accessed April 15, 2022

[41] Congress.gov, "H.R.2617 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023," accessed January 20, 2023

[42] Congress.gov, "H.R.1044 - Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020," accessed March 22, 2024

[43] Congress.gov, "H.R.6800 - The Heroes Act," accessed April 23, 2024

[44] Congress.gov, "H.R.1 - For the People Act of 2019," accessed April 23, 2024

[45] Congress.gov, "H.R.748 - CARES Act," accessed April 23, 2024

[46] Congress.gov, "H.R.5 - Equality Act," accessed April 23, 2024

[47] Congress.gov, "H.R.8 - Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019," accessed April 23, 2024

[48] Congress.gov, "H.R.6 - American Dream and Promise Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024

[49] Congress.gov, "S.1790 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020," accessed April 27, 2024

[50] Congress.gov, "H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act," accessed April 24, 2024

[51] Congress.gov, "H.R.1994 - Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024

[52] Congress.gov, "H.R.3 - Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act," accessed March 22, 2024

[53] Congress.gov, "H.R.1865 - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024

[54] Congress.gov, "S.1838 - Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024

[55] Congress.gov, "H.R.3884 - MORE Act of 2020," accessed April 27, 2024

[56] Congress.gov, "H.R.6074 - Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020," accessed April 27, 2024

[57] Congress.gov, "H.J.Res.31 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019," accessed April 27, 2024

[58] Congress.gov, "S.47 - John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act," accessed April 27, 2024

[59] Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024

[60] Congress.gov, "H.R.6395 - William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021," accessed April 27, 2024

[61] Congress.gov, "S.24 - Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019," accessed April 27, 2024

[62] Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors," accessed April 27, 2024

[63] Congress.gov, "H.Res.755 - Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors," accessed April 27, 2024

[64] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 434," accessed December 13, 2018

[65] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 284," June 21, 2018

[66] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 282," June 21, 2018

[67] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 434," accessed March 12, 2019

[68] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 549," October 3, 2017

[69] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 344," June 29, 2017

[70] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 342," June 29, 2017

[71] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 256," May 4, 2017

[72] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 405," September 26, 2018

[73] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 399," September 13, 2018

[74] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 313," June 28, 2018

[75] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 257," June 8, 2018

[76] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 216," May 22, 2018

[77] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 127," March 22, 2018

[78] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 69," February 9, 2018

[79] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 60," February 6, 2018

[80] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 44," January 22, 2018

[81] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 33," January 18, 2018

[82] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 708," December 21, 2017

[83] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 692," December 19, 2017

[84] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 670," December 7, 2017

[85] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 637," November 16, 2017

[86] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 589," October 26, 2017

[87] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 557," October 5, 2017

[88] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 528," September 14, 2017

[89] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 480," September 8, 2017

[90] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 441," September 6, 2017

[91] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 299," June 8, 2017

[92] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 249," May 3, 2017

[93] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 230," May 24, 2018

[94] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 49," January 30, 2018

[95] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 631," November 14, 2017

[96] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 435," July 27, 2017

[97] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 413," July 25, 2017

[98] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 437," July 28, 2017

[99] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 407," July 24, 2017

[100] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results For Roll Call 378," July 14, 2017

[101] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 136," March 8, 2017

[102] Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 113th Congress," accessed April 29, 2015

[103] Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 114th Congress," accessed January 5, 2017

[104] Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress," April 13, 2015

[105] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 361," June 12, 2015

[106] Roll Call, "Deadline for TAA Do-Over Vote Extended to July 30 (Updated)," June 15, 2015

[107] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 362," June 12, 2015

[108] Roll Call, "Deadline for TAA Do-Over Vote Extended to July 30 (Updated)," June 15, 2015

[109] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 374," June 18, 2015

[110] Politico, "Trade turnaround: House backs new power for Obama," June 18, 2015

[111] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 388," June 24, 2015

[112] The Hill, "Obama signs trade bills," June 29, 2015

[113] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 239," accessed May 27, 2015

[114] Congress.gov, "H.R. 1735," accessed May 27, 2015

[115] The Hill, "Redone defense policy bill sails through House," accessed November 12, 2015

[116] Congress.gov, "S. 1356," accessed November 12, 2015

[117] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 618," accessed November 12, 2015

[118] Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to S. 1356)," accessed November 12, 2015

[119] Congress.gov, "S.Con.Res.11," accessed May 5, 2015

[120] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 183," accessed May 5, 2015

[121] The Hill, "Republicans pass a budget, flexing power of majority," accessed May 5, 2015

[122] Congress.gov, "HR 1314 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015," accessed November 1, 2015

[123] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 579," accessed November 1, 2015

[124] Senate.gov, "On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314)," accessed November 1, 2015

[125] Congress.gov, "H.R.1191 - Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015," accessed May 16, 2015

[126] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 226," accessed May 16, 2015

[127] Congress.gov, "HR 3461," accessed September 11, 2015

[128] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 493," accessed September 11, 2015

[129] Congress.gov, "HR 3460," accessed September 10, 2015

[130] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 494," accessed September 11, 2015

[131] Congress.gov, "H Res 411," accessed September 10, 2015

[rc492-132] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 492," accessed September 10, 2015

[133] Congress.gov, "HR 597," accessed November 2, 2015

[134] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 576," accessed November 2, 2015

[135] Congress.gov, "H.R.2048," accessed May 26, 2015

[136] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 224," accessed May 26, 2015

[137] Congress.gov, "HR 36 - the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," accessed May 16, 2015

[138] Clerk.House.gov, "HR 36," accessed May 16, 2015

[139] Congress.gov, "HR 1731," accessed November 2, 2015

[140] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 173," accessed November 2, 2015

[141] Congress.gov, "HR 1560 - Protecting Cyber Networks Act," accessed November 1, 2015

[142] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 170," accessed November 1, 2015

[143] Congress.gov, "HR 4038 - the American SAFE Act of 2015," accessed November 20, 2015

[144] Clerk.House.gov, "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 643," accessed November 20, 2015

[145] Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, First Session of the 112th Congress," accessed September 5, 2013

[146] Congressional Record, "Resume of Congressional Activity, Second Session of the 113th Congress," accessed March 4, 2014

[votes-147] 147.0 ^147.1 ^147.2 ^147.3 ^147.4 ^147.5 ^147.6 ^147.7 Project Vote Smart, "Bill Foster Key Votes," accessed October 11, 2013

[148] The Library of Congress, "Bill Summary & Status - 113th Congress (2013 - 2014) - H.R.624," accessed August 27, 2013

[149] Clerk of U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 31: H.R. 2642," accessed February 12, 2014

[150] Politico, "House clears farm bill," accessed February 12, 2014

[farm-151] 151.0 ^151.1 NY Times, "Senate Passes Long-Stalled Farm Bill, With Clear Winners and Losers," accessed February 12, 2014

[cnnhousevote-152] 152.0 ^152.1 CNN.com, "House passes compromise $1.1 trillion budget for 2014," accessed January 20, 2014

[vote-153] 153.0 ^153.1 ^153.2 U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote 21," accessed January 20, 2014

[154] Roll Call, "Omnibus Sails Through the Senate," January 16, 2014

[155] Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013

[156] Buzzfeed, "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013

[157] Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013

[158] The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013

[159] U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013

[160] U.S. House, "Roll Vote 681," accessed 2010

[161] Gallup, "Among Recent Bills, Financial Reform a Lone Plus for Congress," accessed September 13, 2010

[162] US House Clerk, "Roll Call 690," accessed December 10, 2008

[163] Gallup, "Among Recent Bills, Financial Reform a Lone Plus for Congress," accessed September 13, 2010

[164] US House Clerk, "Roll Call 46," accessed January 28, 2009

[165] Rasmussen Reports, "38% Say Stimulus Plan Helped Economy, 36% Say It Hurt," accessed August 24, 2010

[166] US House Clerk, "Roll Call 314," accessed June 9, 2009

[167] Rasmussen Reports, "54% Oppose “Cash for Clunkers" Plan To Spur Purchase of Greener Cars," accessed June 23, 2009

[168] US House Clerk, "Roll Call 165," accessed March 21, 2010

[169] Rasmussen Reports, "61% Favor Repeal of Healthcare Law," accessed September 20, 2010

[170] Washington Post, "Which lawmakers will refuse their pay during the shutdown?" accessed October 3, 2013

[171] Illinois State Board of Elections, "Candidate List," accessed November 30, 2015

[172] The New York Times, "Illinois Primary Results," March 15, 2016

[173] Chicago Tribune, "Khouri, Stella separated by less than a percentage point in 11th District," March 16, 2016

[ilushouse-174] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ilushouse

[175] Politico, "2012 Election Map, Illinois," accessed 2012

[176] Chicago Sun-Times, "Illinois Congress 2012: Bill Foster running in new 11th District UPDATE GOP react," accessed December 5, 2011

[abc-177] 177.0 ^177.1 ABC News 7, "Election Results Primary 2012," accessed March 20, 2012 (dead link)

[178] Chicago Tribune, "Suburban congressional candidates square off in debate," accessed October 13, 2012

[179] U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013

[180] U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013

[quotedisclaimer-181] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[182] Bill Foster for Congress, "Issues," accessed December 30, 2011

[183] OpenSecrets, "Foster (D-IL), 2012," accessed February 18, 2014

[184] This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).

[185] This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.

[186] This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.

[187] This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.

[188] OpenSecrets.org, "Rep. Bill Foster," accessed September 24, 2014

[189] GovTrack, "Bill Foster," accessed July 29, 2014

[190] OpenCongress, "Rep. Bill Foster," accessed September 29, 2015

[191] National Journal, "2013 Congressional Vote Ratings," accessed July 29, 2014

[192] GovTrack, "Rep. Bill Foster (D)," accessed September 29, 2015

[193] OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014

[194] OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014

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