WASHINGTON DC (February 20, 2026) — Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is proud to announce that he secured over $200 million in federal funding to support several initiatives at Rock Island Arsenal that will protect jobs, support service-members, and expand the Arsenal’s Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
“I’m proud to bring home federal funding to support Rock Island Arsenal in its mission to provide good-paying jobs for my neighbors, develop cutting-edge technology, and support the Quad Cities economy,” said Congressman Eric Sorensen.
“In this bill, we’re also protecting the Rock Island Arsenal Museum so that people from across the country can learn about the important history of the Arsenal as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. I look forward to working alongside our community to continue to support Rock Island Arsenal’s critical mission.”
"We are tremendously grateful for the consistent and tremendous support from our Congressional Delegation, especially the advocacy that Congressman Sorensen has provided to Rock Island Arsenal, a strategic capability for America’s national defense and a critical asset for our Quad Cities community. The FY26 defense appropriations bill contains some significant funding to support work at Rock Island Arsenal. As an example, there is robust funding to support efforts at the Additive and Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence that helps to rapidly scale the Army’s Sky Foundry drone production effort," said Shawn Creamer, Executive Director, Rock Island Arsenal Defense Alliance.
The funded projects include:
- $100 million for the Army’s Arsenal Sustainment Initiative, which helps to stabilize labor rates at the Rock Island Arsenal and two other Army arsenals.
- $80.5 million to continue manufacturing the Next Generation High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Shop Equipment Contract and Maintenance (SECM) at the Rock Island Arsenal in partnership with AM General, allowing troops to better to maintain systems on the ground.
- $5 million for the Rock Island Arsenal’s Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, the Army’s hub for next generation additive manufacturing innovation.
- $1 million for equipment to begin additively manufacturing CCA wings at the Rock Island Arsenal’s Advanced and Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
- $29 million for other projects being completed at or alongside the Rock Island Arsenal.
- Bans funding from being used to close the Rock Island Arsenal Museum.
Congressman Eric Sorensen represents Illinois’ 17th District in the United States House of Representatives. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for more than twenty years. His district includes Illinois’ Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.
