ICYMI: Sorensen Leads Peoria-Area Veterans Roundtable
PEORIA, IL – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) hosted a roundtable with Peoria-area veterans and advocates to discuss their needs and challenges. Sorensen highlighted his work in Congress to support veterans and their families.
“Veterans represent the best of what our communities have to offer,” said Sorensen. “These roundtables give me a chance to hear directly from our neighbors who have served so I can focus on solving the issues that would make their lives a little easier. That’s why I introduced my Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act, which is one way we’re making life more comfortable for those who have sacrificed so much.”
During the roundtable, Sorensen heard from Peoria-area veterans on issues that matter most to them, including health care access for veterans, employment opportunities, and more.
Sorensen discussed his Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act, legislation he introduced last year with House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano that will increase grants to help disabled veterans install ramps, lower sinks, and make other changes to their home to fit their needs.
Despite labor and material costs increasing by 40 percent over the last decade, Congress has not adjusted the funding for these grants since 2009, leaving many veterans without enough money to make these much-needed home renovations.
Since entering Congress, Sorensen has been an advocate for veterans. Last year, he:
- Brought House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano to the Laurent House in Rockford to highlight work to support disabled veterans and testified before the committee on the Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act.
- Co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to provide 50,000 combat-injured veterans with full disability compensation and retired pay.
- Voted for a cost-of-living increase for veterans with service-connected disabilities Delivered a speech on the House floor calling on Congress to avoid putting veterans’ health care at risk.