April 24, 2024
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Foster lauds Biden for nixing ‘racist’ travel ban

Rep also praised U.S. rejoining international climate agreement

By Alex Ortiz

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, can be seen speaking to the media Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, at the Ken Christy Post Office in Aurora, Ill., during a press conference condemning President Donald Trump's effort to limit the United States Postal Service. (Eric Ginnard - eginnard@shawmedia.com)

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster praised President Joe Biden for rescinding the travel ban on several predominately Muslim countries, a reversal of the executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.

Foster, D-Naperville, said in a statement the policy was “racist,” “disgraceful,” and “served no purpose but to stoke anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiment.” He added he was glad Biden rescinded it.

“The former President began his Presidency with attacks on immigrant communities through bigoted rhetoric and cruel policies like this,” Foster said in the statement. “On Day One of the Biden administration, it’s clear that America will once again embrace the rich diversity that makes us stronger.”

Foster also applauded Biden for rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, a pact between nearly 200 countries to adopt polices aiming to combat climate change.

The congressman, a former physicist with a doctorate, was one of many who criticized Trump for pulling the U.S. out of the agreement in 2017.

“We will not abdicate our responsibility to help protect the planet for future generations, and we will employ our nation’s scientific infrastructure to tackle the challenge of climate change,” Foster said.