Congressman Bill Foster is a scientist and businessman representing the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, a position he’s held since 2013. He also represented the 14th Congressional District of Illinois from 2008 to 2011. He is the only PhD physicist in Congress.
Bill serves on the House Financial Services Committee where he advocates for consumer protections and an economy that works for everyone. In response to the Great Recession, he helped create several important reforms in the financial services and housing markets, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Bill serves as chairman of the Financial Services Committee’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.
As the only PhD physicist in Congress, I know firsthand the great contributions science has made to our country. The United States is a leader in innovation and federally funded scientific research has improved the quality of life for millions of people around the world. Federal investments in science are the foundation of our economy and have led to breakthroughs in lifesaving medicines. We need to sustain funding for research and development so that we can solve the most important problems of this generation and the next.
Currently, we have an aging population that will require high-quality medical care to live fulfilling lives. The cost of care for diseases, including Alzheimer’s and diabetes, will increase exponentially. Long-term medical care will cost Medicare and Medicaid hundreds of billions of dollars each year. However, investment in medical research offers hope for those suffering from disease and reduces costs for federal taxpayers.