Public Safety
I am grateful to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to serve our communities. Unfortunately, many local departments are often working on strained budgets and lack the necessary equipment needed to adequately protect our neighborhoods.
As your Representative, I am taking strides to invest more into local law enforcement agencies to support their training needs, help them better retain and recruit officers, and build better relationships with the communities they serve.
More on Public Safety
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is joining bipartisan legislation to raise pay for federal correctional officers and improve safety inside federal prisons, including facilities serving Illinois. The Federal Correctional Officer Paycheck Protection Act of 2026 would provide a 35 percent base pay increase for eligible Bureau of Prisons employees, helping address chronic staffing shortages, excessive mandatory overtime, and high turnover rates.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce that two community projects in Illinois’ 17th District are included in the FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.
The legislation includes $500,000 in Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Sorensen to support public safety and infrastructure improvements in Rockford and Peoria.
STERLING, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce the City of Sterling has been awarded $138,788 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
The funding will support operations and safety improvements, helping ensure local firefighters have the tools and resources needed to protect the Sterling community.
PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce the City of Peoria has been awarded $3,036,362 through FEMA’s Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.
The funding will support the hiring of firefighters, helping Peoria maintain adequate staffing levels and ensuring faster, more effective emergency response for the community.
KEWANEE, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce the City of Kewanee has received $166,666 through FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program.
The funding will support fire prevention and safety initiatives, helping reduce fire-related risks and improve community awareness and preparedness.
“Fire prevention saves lives before emergencies happen,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This grant will help Kewanee invest in proactive safety efforts that protect our neighbors and first responders.”
"Through the use of these grant funds, the Kewanee Fire Department will be able to initiate a Community Risk Reduction Plan aimed at all businesses and public access buildings in the city of Kewanee. We will now be able to fortify the fire prevention aspects of public safety that would have otherwise been financially unattainable." Kewanee Fire Chief, Stephen Welgat said.
The Kewanee Fire Department was also the recipient of a FY24 FEMA AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) award in the amount of $203,561.66. Those funds helped purchase 3 new automatic external defibrillators (AED's). Those AED's have already arrived and are currently in service.
FEMA completed awarding FY24 fire grants in September 2025, with recipients now posted publicly on the agency’s website. These programs provide critical support to fire departments and communities across the country.
KEWANEE, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce the City of Kewanee has received $166,666 through FEMA’s Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program.
The funding will support fire prevention and safety initiatives, helping reduce fire-related risks and improve community awareness and preparedness.
“Fire prevention saves lives before emergencies happen,” said Congressman Sorensen. “This grant will help Kewanee invest in proactive safety efforts that protect our neighbors and first responders.”
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) has joined legislation to protect older Americans from financial scams, which often spike during the busy holiday season. The Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act is a bipartisan bill endorsed by AARP that gives state and local law enforcement new tools to prevent and investigate financial scams targeting seniors.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) secured $825,000 to support the construction of a regional training tower in Rock Falls that will serve all fire departments in the area. The tower will allow firefighters to train under realistic conditions, ensuring they are fully prepared to respond to the challenges they’ll face on the scene when seconds matter.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) issued the following statement after learning of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis.