Democratic U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois said Saturday she had answered questions about how Starved Rock State Park could be made a national park, even though no bill or immediate action is pending.

“I don’t want you to hear me say (Starved Rock) is going to be a national park. We’re not there yet.”

— US Representative Lauren Underwood

“These discussions are still very preliminary, so I don’t want you to hear me saying it should be a national park,” she said. “We’re not there yet.”

Underwood did not say how many activists had made such requests.

Media could not be immediately reached after Saturday’s event. Underwood’s press office was asked about the level of interest or the number of callers who expressed interest, but a response has not yet been received. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources did not immediately respond to a request for comment made Saturday.

Although it was not a campaign event – Underwood declined to comment on whether she would debate her Republican opponent, James Marter – Underwood used the event to condemn Project 2025 as “dangerous and troubling.” She particularly opposed Republican efforts to “target” Social Security by raising the retirement age and making $1.5 trillion in cuts.

“More than two million people in Illinois would be harmed by these extreme Republican proposals,” Underwood said. “I will always defend Social Security and Medicare. Generations of Americans have relied on these programs for their retirement and health care.”

Underwood also pointed to her continued support for prescription drug cost caps. She said she supported legislation that capped insulin at $35 and capped drug costs under Medicare Part D at $2,000 per year.

“We took on the pharmaceutical industry and won,” Underwood said.

Other notable reactions to the event:

• Mike Phillips, a lecturer at Illinois Valley Community College, expressed concern about cuts to federally funded science programs passed by Congress. Underwood said she disapproves of the “devastating” cuts to scientific research and is pushing for funding in five-year cycles.

• Dawn Hicks of La Salle asked about increased federal water quality monitoring and industrial pollution surveillance. Underwood promised to hold another meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency and urged voters to push city officials to use untapped funding sources such as the Water Resources Development Act.