U.S. Rep. Sorensen hears from labor leaders on infrastructure needs

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, (D) IL, 17th Dist., joined Peoria’s Mayor and labor leaders from Central Illinois Monday afternoon to discuss what the city needs to improve local infrastructure. 

Sorensen hopes to bring federal money back to the city and create jobs to rebuild Illinois. 

“These are the ways that not only is it better for infrastructure for our communities, but it’s going to put our good people to work because there’s nothing more empowering than actually seeing work being done to make your neighborhood better,” Sorensen said. 

One of the main takeaways from Monday’s roundtable is the shortage of engineers.

People from Illinois’ American Council of Engineering Companies suggested enlightening junior high and high school students in STEM fields. 

“We need to make sure that the education there is focused on STEM because it’s so important for the viability and sustainability of our communities,” Sorensen said. 

An engineer at the table introduced the idea of high school students having the opportunity to participate in an engineering internship. 

Sorensen says a good use of that federal funding would be to offer those paths through skilled labor programs.

“If we’re going to invest in our own hometowns, then we’re going to invest in the workers that our hometowns have brought us,” Sorensen said. 

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali says there are programs in Peoria schools to introduce students to STEM careers, but she’s excited about the discussions to build that capacity. 

“There’s a void of needed engineers by all these firms that were present; everybody’s looking for, and stealing from each other, workers because everybody needs workers to get the work done,” Mayor Ali said.

Sorensen couldn’t provide a set amount of money that Peoria could see or a timeline on when these projects would start. He says the possible projects are dependent on the budget signed by the House of Representatives.