News from Congressman Bill Foster

Dear Friend,

We’re now approaching week four of the Republican government shutdown. Here’s what's happening in Washington:

What This Government Shutdown Is About

Earlier this year, Republicans' "Big Beautiful Bill" enacted the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history: slashing $536 billion dollars from Medicare, hundreds of billions more from Medicaid, and putting both basic health care and end-of-life care for seniors at risk. Now, they are refusing to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that make health care affordable for millions of American families.

Here in Illinois, approximately 400,000 citizens depend on these tax credits to be able to pay for their health insurance. If they expire, people in our community could see their insurance costs go up by 241%—over $17,400 more per year—forcing many families to drop health insurance entirely.

This is happening because Republicans are refusing to negotiate with Democrats on any agreement to extend these tax credits and prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing. Instead, they are demanding that Democrats simply go along and vote for their cuts to health care. We are not going to do that.

Blocking Release of the Trump-Epstein Files

Republicans’ bad faith and failure to legislate doesn’t stop there. In a clear abuse of power, Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to allow Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva, who won her special election almost a month ago, to be sworn in to begin her duties.

When I was first elected in a special election, I was sworn in within 72 hours. Twice this term, Speaker Johnson has promptly sworn in Republican members who won special elections. Even during a government shutdown, Congress convenes weekly—but during those sessions, Speaker Johnson has been blocking Ms. Grijalva from taking her seat—denying the representation guaranteed by our Constitution to hundreds of thousands of Arizonans.

Why? The reason is clear: Congresswoman-elect Grijalva would be the final signature needed to force a House vote to release the Trump-Epstein files. Republicans know what is in them, and they are doing everything they can to avoid a vote and to block their release.

The Path Forward

As the party that controls the House, Senate, and the White House, Republicans must decide to come to the negotiating table to find a bipartisan path forward. Until they do, hundreds of thousands of workers—including air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and thousands of others—are working without pay right now, with additional public servants being furloughed every day. Now, SNAP benefits for millions of families are threatened. So until the shutdown is over, I am donating my pay to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

As your representative, I will continue to hold the line, prevent your premiums from skyrocketing, and hold this administration accountable.

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
Member of Congress

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