Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress this evening.

“Every day I hear from my constituents who want me to find common sense solutions to lowering prices and securing the border. They want groceries to be cheaper, they want to afford their prescription drugs, and they want to afford a home to raise their kids in,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen. “They didn’t hear any of that from the President tonight. While he is indiscriminately firing hardworking Americans and starting unnecessary trade wars that will jack up prices, I will keep fighting to deliver on the issues my neighbors care about the most.”

Congressman Sorensen attended the State of the Union with James Diaz, a resident of Monmouth, Illinois. Diaz, a disabled veteran who served overseas during the Gulf conflicts of the 1980s and 1990s, was unexpectedly laid off in February 2025 as a result of actions taken by the Trump administration and Elon Musk.

Diaz joined the federal workforce in April of last year, bringing his commitment to service and expertise to his role as a Fuel Compliance Officer at the IRS field office in Galesburg. Despite his support for many of President Trump’s policy goals, Diaz has been vocal about his disappointment in how federal workers—particularly veterans—are being treated.