Energy and the Environment
As a local meteorologist for over two decades, I know what so many other scientists know: the climate is changing. To me, there’s nothing political about that. We’ve seen the negative impacts of extreme weather firsthand across Central and Northwestern Illinois.
We need to find ways to protect our homes and farms from draughts, floods, and other adverse weather events while investing in clean power sources that will create sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in our district.
We owe it to our kids and grandkids to build a cleaner environment and we owe it to our farmers to make sure they can pass down their family farms to the next generation.
More on Energy and the Environment
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) joined Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) in introducing the Strengthening Access to Flood-resilient Environments for Rural Communities Act (SAFE Rural Act), to help rural communities better prepare for flooding before disasters strike.
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressmen Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Mike Flood (R-NE) launched the Weather Enterprise Caucus for the 119th Congress. This bipartisan caucus serves as a forum to inform Members of Congress about all things weather forecasting and research – particularly the economic, societal, and national security value of the United States Weather Enterprise.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Eric Sorensen (IL-17) helped introduce the Energy Bills Relief Act, legislation that would help lower families’ monthly utility bills, ensure that data centers are not passing energy costs to households, and expand access to clean and affordable energy for generations to come.
In 2025, the average Illinois family saw their utility bills go up by $200—an increase of over 15% in one year.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) introduced the National Weather Safety Board Act, legislation that establishes an independent review board to investigate major weather-related disasters to determine what went wrong, what worked, and how the nation can better protect lives and property in the future.
Modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Weather Safety Board would conduct independent investigations after major disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and extreme winter storms.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) reintroduced bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) to preserve and restore the Driftless Area between Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. By empowering farmers with voluntary conservation tools, the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) Act reduces flood risk, improves water quality, and expands recreation and tourism activities in the Driftless Area.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) today condemned the Trump Administration and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought for canceling $8 billion worth of Department of Energy (DOE) projects across the country, including more than $54 million in projects in Illinois’ 17th Congressional District.
These projects, already approved and funded by Congress, were designed to lower energy costs, create jobs, and boost American innovation. Despite DOE remaining open and fully funded, the Administration chose to terminate them anyway.
ROCKFORD, IL - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) today announced that the City of Rockford will receive a $500,000 federal grant to clean up and revitalize brownfield sites — properties where redevelopment is complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
This funding, provided through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will allow Rockford to inventory, assess, and plan cleanups of properties that can be transformed into safe, productive spaces for the community.
Representatives Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Sharice Davids (KS-03) introduced their bipartisan Low-Income Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Establishment Act. The legislation would re-establish LIHWAP, the first-ever federal water assistance program, after funding for the program expired in 2022.