Patti Vasquez is joined by U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, 2026 candidate for re-election in the 17th District of Illinois.  The interview focused on Sorensen’s proposals for addressing farm, household, and national security pressures affecting Illinois residents.

Here are a few key points from the conversation:
- Sorensen, a former TV meteorologist, described his proposed National Weather Safety Board Act (H.R.7848), which would investigate climate-related disasters and inform resilience legislation.
- He promoted the Homegrown Fertilizer Act to increase fertilizer competition and lower farm input costs, the STOP GAMES Act to accelerate generic drug access, and restoring the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
- Rising fuel, grocery, prescription, and water costs are linked to supply pressures, tariffs, reduced assistance, and federal policy choices.
- The closure of Tyson Foods' Joslin, Illinois, plant eliminated jobs for approximately 2,500 workers and exposed broader issues concerning cattle supply and immigrant labor. 

"[Understand] that at that Joslin plant in Western Illinois, in Rock Island County, Illinois, there were some 20 different languages that were spoken under that roof," Sorensen said. "And so now these people don't have jobs anymore. Where are they going to go? Where is their safety net? But as we go forward, I've been working with the governor, and Governor Pritzker and I have done everything we can. If we can get that plant back open, we're still going to need immigrant labor. But the problem is, this administration just wants them to go back to their home countries. No, their home country is the United States. We have to take care of them here."

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

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