Press Releases

Congressman Sorensen on House Floor Honoring Blake Schwarz

Congressman Sorensen Honors Blake Schwarz on House Floor, Urges Passage of Suicide Prevention Bill in His Name

April 8, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) honored former Thomson Federal Correctional Institution Officer Blake Schwarz on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and urged House leadership to swiftly pass the Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act.

The legislation would help provide mental health support for corrections officers across the country by establishing a grant program through the U.S.

Issues:Government Accountability and TransparencyPublic Safety

AARP Endorses Sorensen, Ciscomani Bill to Crack Down on AI Robocalls

April 4, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), representing more than 100 million Americans over the age of 50, recently endorsed Congressmen Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Juan Ciscomani’s (AZ-6) Quashing Unwanted and

Issues:Seniors

Photo of Congressman Eric Sorensen talking about his response to President Trump's sweeping tariffs announcement

Congressman Sorensen Responds to President Trump's Tariffs Announcement

April 3, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s across-the-board tariffs that will significantly raise prices on families in Illinois’ 17th district.

“Tariffs are taxes that will make it more expensive for families across Central and Northwestern Illinois to afford their groceries or buy a new home,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen.

Issues:AgricultureJobs, Small Business, and the EconomySeniors

Congressman Sorensen Leads Letter Demanding an End to Cuts at NOAA and the National Weather Service

April 3, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) led nearly two dozen of their House colleagues in demanding the Director of U.S. Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought to stop firing and reinstate impacted National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) employees.

Issues:Government Accountability and TransparencyEnergy and the Environment

Sorensen Supports Manufacturing Jobs in Northwestern Illinois

Sorensen Leads Bipartisan Effort to Secure Continued Support for Defense Communities

March 28, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Eric Sorensen (IL-17) and Blake Moore (UT-01) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led a bipartisan letter urging Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to maintain support for the Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC).

Issues:Service Members and DefenseVeterans

Sorensen Reintroduces Bill to Rename Post Office After Rockford Letter Carrier Jay Larson

March 27, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), along with Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), reintroduced a bipartisan bill to rename the United States Postal Service (USPS) building located at 5225 Harrison Avenue in Rockford after letter carrier Jay Larson.

Sorensen Supports Bill to Stop Social Security Office Closures

March 11, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is fighting to protect Americans from the Trump-Musk plan to gut Social Security. Sorensen helped introduce the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act, which aims to prevent the closure of critical Social Security field and hearing offices. This bill would ensure continued access to vital services for seniors, people with disabilities, and families across the country.

Issues:Government Accountability and TransparencySeniors

Sorensen Leads Illinois Colleagues in Calling Out Mass Layoffs at Peoria Ag Lab

March 7, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) led 14 of his Illinois colleagues, including Senators Durbin and Duckworth, calling on the administration to refrain from their efforts to reduce the Peoria Ag Lab workforce. The letter warns Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Dr. Rosalind James, Midwest Area Director of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, that such a move would undermine the lab’s ability to support farmers, strengthen food security, and drive economic growth.

Issues:AgricultureGovernment Accountability and Transparency

Sorensen, House Democrats Introduce the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act Ahead of 60th Anniversary of Selma Civil Rights March

March 7, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Ahead of the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the historic Civil Rights March from Selma to Montgomery, Congressman Eric Sorensen joined his House Democratic colleagues to reintroduce H.R. 14, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Issues:Government Accountability and Transparency

Sorensen’s Statement on NOAA and National Weather Service Job Cuts

February 28, 2025

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) issued the following statement in response to mass firings across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), which appears to have affected more than 800 employees, including some from the Quad Cities’ office.

“The reckless decision to fire NOAA and National Weather Service employees puts American lives at risk.

Issues:Government Accountability and TransparencyEnergy and the Environment