Sorensen promises to continue mission of collaboration in second Congressional term

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen said his mission of communication and working together will remain the same in his second term in office.

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BLOOMINGTON — Whether it's ensuring Illinois farmers can buy John Deere supplies locally, protecting Social Security and Medicare or investing in sustainable aviation fuel, U.S. Rep.

Eric Sorensen said the key to success in his second Congressional term is working together. "It's working with anyone, whether they're Republican or Democrat or Independent, to tackle the real challenges that we have to build safe communities, stronger communities and more resilient hometowns," Sorensen said in a virtual press conference on Wednesday. Sorensen, a Democrat from Moline, was reelected in November to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District, a C-shaped region that stretches from Rockford to the Quad Cities to Peoria to Bloomington-Normal.



Sorensen also shared news with his constituents that FEMA assistance will be coming to Cuba, Illinois, in response to severe flooding; projects are being planned for water infrastructure work in Bloomington; and funding will be put toward sidewalks in Peoria. Sorensen Heading into the upcoming Congressional session, where Democrats face minorities in the House and Senate, Sorensen said one non-negotiable subject is the protection of Social Security and Medicare. "These programs are lifelines for our working families and for senior citizens," Sorensen said.

"And so I'm going to use every ounce of effort and strength that I have to make sure that what is rightfully earned will get into the hands of the people who have earned it." Sorensen said he is also excited about the possibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel in Illinois, which is seen as the next step for ethanol producers to remain profitable as the country pushes to make its fleet electric. "Understanding here today that (with) all of the jet airplanes that are in the sky, airlines are doing nothing to meet their climate goals," Sorensen said.

"You know, I've talked with executives from United Airlines that say we need sustainable aviation fuel to meet our climate goals." Sorensen said he recently toured Marquis Energy in Hennepin, which uses soybeans within a 100-mile radius of the plant to produce sustainable aviation fuel . The process does release carbon dioxide as a byproduct, which could be stored in underground granite deposits — but the underground storage of carbon dioxide has been an ongoing controversy in Illinois.

To qualify for federal tax credits for sustainable jet fuel that were made available in 2022, the fuel being produced must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50%. To hit this goal, One Earth Energy's ethanol plant in Gibson City has been working to gain approval for a 7-mile carbon sequestration pipeline that would transport excess carbon dioxide into the Mount Simon Geological formation for storage. However, this project has raised concerns about potential leakage into the Mahomet Aquifer, which provides water for more than 500,000 Illinois residents.

Over the last few months, several governing bodies have adopted resolutions supporting state-initiated efforts to protect the aquifer from sequestration projects. State legislation banning sequestration within the footprint of the Mahomet Aquifer had its first legislative hearing in November. "We're going to have to look at how carbon capture and sequestration works and make sure that we're making the smartest decisions when we become the benchmark for how it's done around the world," Sorensen said.

However, Sorensen added that Congress also needs to make sure there isn't a lot of bureaucracy and red tape to the production process. Therefore, it will be important to hear from farmers and to work with county farm bureaus to understand what their members are going through. "If I don't hear from folks back home, I won't know how to advocate," Sorensen said.

Although the issue is not as high-profile as some of the other work he's done, Sorensen said he is proud of the casework his office has handled. In his first term, Sorensen said his office was able to return more than $3.6 million to nearly 2,000 people in his district.

These payments could have been IRS returns that were tied up in bureaucracy, Social Security benefits that were wrongfully withheld, or Veterans Affairs assistance that never made it to veterans in need. "Those are the things that we work on, day in and day out, that people may not hear about," Sorensen said. "It doesn't make the news when we're able to bring back $10,000 of back taxes to somebody who's struggling to pay their bills.

" U.S. Rep.

Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, speaks during a Youth Get Out The Vote Rally on the campus of Illinois State University. Karson Carroll, of Clarence, Mo., rides the John Deere kids’ pedal tractor pull at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Grant and Elizabeth Davis, of south central Kansas, look at a map after arriving at the Farm Progress Show with their daughters Dallas, 4, and Kimber, 3 in Decatur on Tuesday. Abe Endress, 8, climbs a John Deere tractor on display at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Visitors from all over the world explore the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

The Marching Illini headline the opening ceremony to welcome people to the 70th Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Wyatt Ochs, of the Newton FFA, competes in "Operation Obstacle" at the Richland Community College ag tent at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Sara Gryschek, 6, of Chicago, rides the John Deere kids’ pedal tractor pull at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. The Canine Stars perform at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. The Canine Stars perform at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

The Canine Stars perform at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Max Armstrong talks to visitors in the Farm Progress Show Hospitality Building at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Visitors from all over the world explore the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Visitors from all over the world explore the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Visitors from all over the world explore the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Tory, one of the dogs performing with The Canine Stars, catches a disc thrown by Keri Caraher at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Keri Caraher laughs as Bumblebee jumps into a ball pit pool during the Canine Stars show at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Like her co-stars, Bumblebee was a shelter dog before hitting it big on the entertainment circuit. “So we really look for the high energy dogs that, you know, if a dog chews up all the shoes in the house, that’s probably a dog we want because they like to play with toys,” Caraher said.

Dori Curtis, of Indiana, meets The Canine Stars after a Tuesday performance at the Farm Progress Show. YouTuber “Cole The Cornstar” addresses a crowd at the Titan International, Inc. exhibit at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Wednesday.

Laura Wilson, from the “Laura Farms” YouTube channel, addresses a crowd at the Titan International, Inc. exhibit at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Wednesday. A crowd listens to a panel of agriculture YouTube influencers at the Titan International, Inc.

exhibit at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Wednesday. A crowd listens to a panel of agriculture YouTube influencers at the Titan International, Inc. exhibit at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack talks to American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall after making remarks Wednesday at the Farm Progress Show.

Vilsack used his time in Decatur to encourage farmers to diversify their revenue streams in wake of a changing industry. U.S.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack answers questions from press members at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Wednesday, Aug. 30. U.

S. Reps. Nikki Budzinski, Eric Sorensen and Mike Bost talk together during “The Noon Show” at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur in August 2023.

Governor J.B. Pritzker shakes hands with Jerry Costello, director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, before speaking in a press conference at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Governor J.B. Pritzker speaks about rural mental health initiatives to a news conference, including a group of FFA student leaders, at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday.

Thaddeus Bergschneider, president of the Illinois Association FFA, talks with Daniel Mahony, president of the Southern Illinois University System, before a press conference at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Lt. Gov.

Juliana Stratton speaks in a press conference at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur on Tuesday. Contact Drew Zimmerman at 309-820-3276. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DZimmermanLee Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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