House Passes Defense Bill, Sorensen Highlights Wins for Rock Island Arsenal and IL-17

Image December 10, 2025 Press Release WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce major victories for the Rock Island Arsenal and communities across Illinois’ 17th Congressional District in this year’s national defense legislation, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congressman Sorensen voted to support the defense bill after securing critical provisions to protect jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal, support the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, and strengthen Central and Northwestern Illinois. “We must do everything
we can to put our servicemembers and military families first. These investments
give our neighbors the support they deserve and help safeguard the jobs that
drive our local economy,” said Congressman Sorensen . “Improving
childcare, protecting the C-130 fleet and investing in the Arsenal all deliver
meaningful results for Central and Northwestern Illinois.” Earlier this summer,
Sorensen announced a series of major IL-17 victories included in the
House-passed NDAA. Those provisions strengthen the Arsenal, support working
families, and reinforce our national security. Key wins for IL-17 and
the Rock Island Arsenal include: Congressman Sorensen’s Arsenal Workload Sustainment Act, which
incentivizes private industry to partner with arsenals by giving preference to
public-private partnerships in Army contracting, creating a more predictable,
sustained workload to protect and create jobs. The bill bans the Army’s funding to restructure the Rock Island
Arsenal’s Army Sustainment Command (ASC) and Joint Munitions Command (JMC),
until they provide a plan that includes a timeline and information about any
job cuts and the impact to our readiness. Authorizes $50 million for the Rock Island Arsenal’s Child
Development Center to consolidate the existing facilities and make upgrades to
meet DoD guidelines and safety requirements, ensuring that eligible families at
the Rock Island Arsenal have a safe, modern facility for childcare. Authorizes $5 million in design funding for a forging equipment
annex at the Rock Island Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center to
support a wide array of weapon systems across all of the services. The Army will be required to provide more information about
upcoming changes tied to its Army Transformation Initiative—ensuring
communities like those around the Rock Island Arsenal are informed and
prepared. To protect the civilian workforce, the bill requires DoD to
justify major reductions in force by considering readiness, effectiveness, and
fully burdened costs and notify Congress. The Department of Defense is directed to explore public-private
partnerships at arsenals and other key military industrial sites, opening the
door to local innovation and economic growth. An extension of the Army’s online real estate tool pilot program
that the Rock Island Arsenal participates in. The bill ensures the Air Force maintains at least 271 C-130
aircraft and prohibits the reduction of C-130 aircraft assigned to the Air
National Guard, preserving critical operations tied to the 182nd Airlift Wing
in Peoria. Big wins that benefit
our servicemembers and national security include: 3.8% pay raises for all military personnel. Authorizes funding for new and improved barracks, dormitories,
child development centers, and family housing. Requires any troop deployed in the U.S. to clearly identify their
service branch. Repeals the 1991 and 2002 Iraq and Gulf War Authorizations for Use
of Military Force (AUMFs). Reauthorizes the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and
extends a limitation on recognizing Russian sovereignty over any part of
Ukraine. Authorizes funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and the
Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. While Congressman
Sorensen voted in support of the NDAA, he strongly opposes the inclusion of the
provision that discriminates against LGBTQ+ servicemembers at the military
service academies and Republican leadership’s decision to remove protections
for collective bargaining. Congressman Sorensen will keep working to advocate
for the LGBTQ+ community and union workers on the Armed Services
Committee. The bill now heads to
the Senate for consideration. Issues : Service Members and Defense