ROCHELLE — United States Congressman Darin LaHood (R-16, Peoria) visited Rochelle on Tuesday, March 26 and spoke at the Rochelle Rotary Club's weekly meeting. 

Following a recent redistricting process, LaHood was drawn into the new 16th Congressional District. The 16th District spans 21 counties across central and northwestern Illinois, including Rochelle and Ogle County.

LaHood serves on three committees in Washington DC, including the House Ways and Means Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and the Select Committee on China.

LaHood also spent time in the area meeting on March 21 with Kishwaukee College's leadership regarding federal issues relating to Pell Grants so students can get financial aid for education. His remarks at the Rotary meeting included local projects he's working with the city and area agencies on, along with agriculture and housing.

One project LaHood discussed with the city is the Dement Road extension, a $20 million project. That project will be submitted for partial federal funding. LaHood has also talked with the city about its current Rochelle Intermodal Transload Center project and potential opportunities for federal funding as the project looks to return intermodal services to Rochelle after Global III's closing.

"Those are great opportunities for federal funding to bring money back here to Rochelle to help with that economic development, which could potentially bring a lot of jobs and opportunities here," LaHood said.

LaHood has also spoken with the city about its joint fire training facility between the Rochelle Fire Department and the Ogle-Lee Fire Protection District on potential federal funding.

LaHood recently helped to secure $3 million for the Lee-Ogle Transportation System (LOTS) for acquiring land next to its current facility and expanding rural transportation services throughout Lee and Ogle County. The money will be spent on vehicles and personnel.

The 16th District is the 10th-largest agriculture district in the country in terms of corn and soybean production. Proceedings are currently ongoing for a new federal farm bill for the next five years, LaHood said.

"This will set the standard for ag and our farmers," LaHood said. "Here in Ogle County, we have some of the richest farmland in the entire world. The farm bill is essential to supporting crop insurance, and setting renewable fuel standards. We're working to get that done and a lot of farmers are waiting for us to set that policy.

LaHood called housing "a big issue" in his district and across the country and cited a low-income housing shortage in all areas. He introduced a bill a year ago for low-income housing tax credits for new construction. The bill passed the house and is currently in the senate.

"We believe this will do a lot of good to help low-income housing," LaHood said. "If it passes hopefully in the next couple of months, it would create about 8,000-10,000 new housing units in the state of Illinois alone to bring in more low-income housing, which is essential to economic development and growing our communities."

Mayor John Bearrows and City Economic Development Director Jason Anderson thanked LaHood for his work with the city.

"Many of you have heard a lot about the projects we have going on in Rochelle in the past, present and future," Bearrows said. "Darin is a big part of not only supporting Rochelle, but his entire district. Whenever we call to talk to him, we always get an answer. He's a hands-on, get-it-done kind guy. He's been gracious to us with many projects. We suggest things, and he doesn't forget them. He knows what's important. The Dement Road extension project relates to connectivity for trucking and safety to get the trucks out of the residential areas in town."