Democratic Congressman Eric Sorensen said he will make a $772,700 Community Project Funding request on behalf of Western Illinois University.
The money would pay for upgrading safety technology and equipment at WIU.
“This investment will help WIU modernize the tools that campus police and public safety personnel rely on every day,” Sorensen said.
“This funding helps strengthen WIU’s emergency response capacity and helps make the campus safer for students, faculty, and staff. This is exactly what Community Project Funding in the Congress is all about.”
Sorensen is currently in the minority party in Congress, but believes he can win approval of this request because it’s about public safety.
“No one can say that this is a partisan issue today,” he said.
The funding request was announced Monday afternoon outside the WIU Alumni House, 1025 W. Adams St.
WIU President Kristi Mindrup said the university provides a safe campus in a safe community. She said the Office of Public Safety helps make that possible.
“I know this additional funding will enhance their capabilities and move the Office of Public Safety forward,” she said.
OPS plans to upgrade its radio equipment, expand the campus camera system, provide new equipment for its officers, and more. The technology could also be used in the new Emergency Operations Center that’s scheduled to open soon on the WIU campus.
‘Outrageous’ tariffs
While in Macomb, Sorensen also called the latest tariffs on Canada “outrageous.”
He questioned why the Trump administration is engaging in a trade war with the United States’ neighbor to the north.
“Nobody asked for this tit-for-tat. So why are we having to pay the tariffs? Why are we having to pay for the taxes when we really just need good economic policy?” he said.
Sorensen said the cost of the tariffs will be passed on to consumers, making many Canadian products too expensive for many Americans.
In response to the tariffs, Canada announced it will impose tariffs of up to 50% on hundreds of American products.
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