In the News
Casten holds town hall meeting for constituents
by Kyle Garmes
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-6th) is still a relatively new face to the local community, as after the re-drawing of district boundaries last year, his district now includes a large part of the 19th Ward and surrounding suburbs. A scientist from Downers Grove, Casten hosted a town hall meeting in Alsip on June 28, and international news, such as Ukraine’s war with Russia, Congress striking a last-minute deal on a debt ceiling, and the national economy were at the top of his mind. About 75 people … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten tells Alsip town hall manufacturing surging, but employers still have trouble filling jobs
by Mike Nolan
In inheriting a new congressional district that includes communities such as Alsip, with a significant industrial base, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, said he went from a territory that is mostly residential to a place “where people work.” Casten has been using town hall sessions to familiarize himself with the new 6th Congressional District, and at a stop in Alsip said the U.S. is “seeing an unprecedented surge in manufacturing.” Still, he said, there is a problem of plentiful jobs … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Congressional Sustainable Investing Caucus
by Reps. Sean Casten and Juan Vargas
There are $8.4 trillion in U.S. assets under management in funds that prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. This represents 13 percent - or 1 in 8 dollars of the total US assets under professional management. Globally, the value of assets engaged in sustainable investing is estimated at $41 trillion. It has grown rapidly and is projected to exceed $53 trillion by 2025, representing more than a third of the $140.5 trillion in projected total assets under … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Lawmakers unsure about path forward on permitting
by Kelsey Brugger, Nidhi Prakash, Emma Dumain
Democrats came up short on permitting in the debt ceiling deal, and key lawmakers are casting doubt on whether there’s still a viable path this year to bolstering the nation’s electric grid. The compromise between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) includes faster reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act but leaves out any mandates on transmission. It’s a clear victory for the GOP. “As it sits right now, I feel like we just lost two years,” said Rep. … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Federal bill would give crop insurance discount to farmers who plant cover crops
by Timothy Eggert
Farmers nationwide who plant cover crops could receive a $5-per-acre discount on crop insurance programs under a federal bill introduced Thursday. Titled the "Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program (COVER) Act," the legislation is sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro; Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove; and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. It corresponds with a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. "The COVER Act is critical to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
The problems — and opportunities — with US energy policy
by Rep. Sean Casten
What is the overarching goal of United States energy policy? Most of my colleagues in Washington would agree it’s to minimize energy cost and pollution, incentivize reliability and innovation, and—as much as possible—rely on domestic supply. And yet, what we actually do is at odds with those goals. Consider: In 2020, when oil prices were falling, former President Trump threatened to withhold military aid from the Saudi government unless they … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Lead in Schools’ Drinking Water
by Rep. Sean Casten
I’m glad to see the Tribune’s recent article (“Toxic traces at the tap,” May 7) highlighting the dangerous water in Illinois’ public schools and its investigative attention on that matter. The fact that more than 1,800 schools had some amount of lead is alarming but sadly not surprising. There is no “safe level” of lead that can be in a child’s bloodstream. Any trace amounts can be harmful to health, especially in early childhood. Lead can … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Casten is special guest at Special Olympics event at Richards
by Jeff Vorva
Special Olympics Illinois held various competitions throughout the state last week and the Region E Unified event at Richards High School on May 4 had a special guest. District 6 Congressman Sean Casten made the trip to Oak Lawn to greet some of the athletes, watch them in action and to read a proclamation. “It’s an honor to be here,” Casten told the crowd at the school’s stadium while wearing a new Richards Bulldogs baseball cap. “As a congressman I can tell … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Experts discuss growth of Constitutional Sheriff movement during Casten forum
by Samantha Malone
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove, hosted a virtual panel over the weekend at which he and four others discussed “rising extremism” and right-wing sheriffs, which he said represents an “incredibly dangerous movement.” The panel featured Casten, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law Professor Jason DeSanto, lawyer and journalist Jessica ... [Log in or subscribe to continue … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
House climate hawks plot permitting overhaul
by Emma Dumain
As talk on a permitting overhaul slowly gathers steam in Congress, two House Democrats are moving forward with their own proposal. On Thursday, Reps. Sean Casten of Illinois and Mike Levin of California formally released a discussion draft of their bill, the “Clean Electricity and Transmission Acceleration (CETA) Act,” the details of which were first reported by E&E News last month (E&E Daily, March 31). The hope, as is the case with most discussion drafts, is to get input from … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
House Democrats release permitting proposal focused on electricity, renewable energy
by Rachel Frazin
House Democrats on Thursday released their permitting reform proposal after House Republicans advanced an energy bill that included measures aimed at streamlining the approval process for projects. Whereas the Republicans’ permitting efforts focused on expediting environmental reviews for infrastructure projects, a discussion draft released Thursday from Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) focused largely on electricity infrastructure, renewable … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Reps. Casten, Levin unveil permitting proposal
by Maxine Joselow
Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) today will unveil a discussion draft of legislation aimed at accelerating the permitting process for clean energy and transmission lines while ensuring community input, according to a copy of the proposal shared first with The Climate 202. The lawmakers, who co-chair the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition’s task force on clean-energy deployment, say they’re hoping to juice … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
House Democrats release permitting proposal focused on electricity, renewable energy
by Rachel Frazin
House Democrats on Thursday released their permitting reform proposal after House Republicans advanced an energy bill that included measures aimed at streamlining the approval process for projects. Whereas the Republicans’ permitting efforts focused on expediting environmental reviews for infrastructure projects, a discussion draft released Thursday from Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) focused largely on electricity infrastructure, renewable energy and including local … Continue Reading
April 24, 2023
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten says Oak Forest office will focus on constituent services
by Jeff Vorva
After U.S. Rep. Sean Casten sliced the red ribbon with some scissors Saturday, he said he is hoping it will represent a slicing of red tape for south suburban residents. The 6th District congressman raised his arms in triumph during a ceremony at 15350 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, the home of the Downers Grove Democrat’s second satellite office. Casten said the office will be supplied with caseworkers who can help with issues related to federal agencies. “You will be able … Continue Reading
April 23, 2023
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten says Oak Forest office will focus on constituent services
by Jeff Vorva
After U.S. Rep. Sean Casten sliced the red ribbon with some scissors Saturday, he said he is hoping it will represent a slicing of red tape for south suburban residents. The 6th District congressman raised his arms in triumph during a ceremony at 15350 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, the home of the Downers Grove Democrat’s second satellite office. Casten said the office will be supplied with caseworkers who can help with issues related to federal agencies. “You will be able to tell … Continue Reading
April 05, 2023
Why lawmakers want to save snot otters
by Maxine Joselow
Congress may be out this week, but Reps. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) and Sean Casten (D-Ill.) are busy drafting a counterproposal to House Republicans’ plan to speed up the permitting process for energy projects. Their forthcoming bill, dubbed the Clean Electricity Transmission Acceleration Act, seeks to accelerate the permitting process for renewable energy projects and the transmission lines needed to carry clean electricity nationwide. It’s a direct response … Continue Reading
March 31, 2023
House climate hawks pitch ‘clean’ permitting plan
by Emma Dumain
March 22, 2023
The congressmember extending an ESG olive branch
by Jordan Wolman
Rep. Sean Casten’s desire to help create rules of the road for the massive and rapidly expanding world of environmental, social and governance investing has thrust him into an uphill battle to find common ground between financial firms and GOP lawmakers accusing them of bias against fossil fuel interests. As co-founder of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, the Illinois Democrat is trying to promote ESG policymaking that provides protections and transparency for market … Continue Reading
March 20, 2023
Our democracy is broken. Here’s how we can fix It
by Representative Sean Casten
Why can’t our government do things that are overwhelmingly popular? How many times have you asked, or heard someone ask, that question? The simplistic answer is some form of individual failure. Corruption, dishonesty, ego — you know the list. But there is a bigger reason that doesn’t get acknowledged enough: because our Founding Fathers didn’t really trust the will of the majority. They didn’t believe people could be trusted with the direct election of the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2023
Biden’s first veto spent on anti-market resolution
by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Representative Sean Casten (D-ILL.), Opinion Contributers
Congressional Republicans have launched a new battle against capitalism. Their latest expression of disdain for the free market was a resolution blocking the consideration of climate, governance and other risks in retirement plan investing. In response, President Biden’s first veto was necessary to defend sensible and long-standing investment principles that congressional Republicans now deride as “woke capitalism.” Let’s be clear what they mean: … Continue Reading