Congressman Sorensen Votes to Block Bill that Fails Illinois Farmers
WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Eric Sorensen (IL-17) released the following statement after voting no on the H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026—the latest version of the Farm Bill—in committee.
“Back in 2023 I worked with farmers and stakeholders from all across Illinois, as well as my colleagues in the majority, to get to a yes on the Farm Bill. I was hopeful that I would be able to do the same today but so much has changed in just a short amount of time. Hard working people deserve so much better.
“American farmers are hurting. Input costs are through the roof while commodity prices are in the dumpster. Bankruptcies are up 46% and we have an affordability crisis becoming worse with retaliatory tariffs. Republican cuts to food assistance have pushed seniors, families, veterans, and people with disabilities to the brink while grocery prices surge.”
“We had an opportunity to address these problems and make farmers whole. But House Republicans refused to meet me in the middle. Instead, they passed a bill with 2018 level funding levels and told farmers to make do. Not even a shift to account for inflation! This bill does not provide stability or certainty and it’s not what farmers, ranchers, and rural communities deserve.
“Farmers want markets and better access to tools that will strengthen soils, build resilience, and improve productivity. Instead, this bill waters down funding for programs that are already stretched thin, fails to restore SNAP benefits for working families and veterans, and leaves out year-round E-15 which would lower gas prices and give farmers access to new markets.
“I will always do what will best support our farmers. And today, that meant voting no on this year’s Farm Bill.”
Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois’ 17th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than 20 years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.
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