In the News
US Rep. Sean Casten: Gun control legislation is effective. Why haven't we done more?
by Rep. Sean Casten
During my six years in Congress, I have received countless messages from parents and teachers concerned for their children and students’ lives in the classroom, at church, in the mall and at parades. They are terrified of what has become a reality for parents in Uvalde, Texas; Parkland, Florida; Highland Park; and countless other cities and towns across America. I know my colleagues across the aisle receive these letters, too. But every time I see them walk into the Capitol proudly wearing an … Continue Reading
March 19, 2024
Oak Brook Park District using $1.4 million federal grant for bridge replacement project
by Chuck Fieldman
The Oak Brook Park District has been awarded a grant of more than $1.4 million that will be used for the Ginger Creek Accessible Pedestrian Bridge and Shoreline Improvement Project. Specifically, the grant is from the HUD Community Project Funding Package included in the Federal 2024 Appropriations Bill and will be used to replace the existing bridge at Central Park. The Park District’s executive director, Laure Kosey, said the grant funding will be used to replace the existing bridge … Continue Reading
March 07, 2024
Reworked SEC climate rule fails to assuage Hill critics
by Emma Dumain
The Security and Exchange Commission’s decision Wednesday to dilute a long-awaited rule to compel major companies to disclose their carbon emissions ultimately did little to neutralize the political response on Capitol Hill. As lawmakers learned the details of the SEC’s so-called climate disclosure rule, their reactions signaled just how politicized environmental policies have truly become — and how dug in members remain in their positions. “The SEC was bullied by corporate interests, … Continue Reading
March 06, 2024
Here are the guests of Illinois members of Congress for Biden's State of the Union address
by Lynn Sweet
When President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address Thursday to a joint session of Congress, the gallery above the House chamber will be filled with guests invited by him, the first lady and House and Senate members, with many of them there to put a human face on a policy, cause, tragedy or heroic act. Here’s who members of Congress from the Chicago area — they are all Democrats — are bringing: U.S. SENATE With access to in vitro fertilization now an issue, Sen. Tammy … Continue Reading
March 05, 2024
'Humbled' Bridge Teen Center Founder Invited To State Of The Union
by Lauren Traut
The leader of an essential and beloved south suburban social services agency for teen will get a glimpse inside the nation's capitol this week. On Thursday, March 7, Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 71st Ct, in Orland Park, will attend the historic State of the Union address in Washington D.C. as the invited guest of Congressman Sean Casten. The State of the Union address is delivered by the President every year to members of both the House … Continue Reading
March 05, 2024
There's A Reason Why Stock Buybacks Used to Be Illegal
by Charles P. Pierce
For a few years now, Senator Professor Warren has been at war with the notion of stock buybacks, the process by which top executives at a company reward themselves handsomely for not producing what their company is alleged to produce. Most recently, working with Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois, she has called out BAE Systems for engaging in a stock buyback scheme while it also was receiving $35 million in federal money through the CHIPS and Science Act. From Financial Regulation News: “We are … Continue Reading
February 20, 2024
Wheaton Sanitary District to upgrade with $2.6M in federal EPA funding
by Jenny Whidden
The Wheaton Sanitary District — which treats wastewater for parts of Wheaton, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn and Winfield — is set to receive $2,655,400 in federal funding to begin construction on treatment improvements, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten recently announced. The upgrades coming to the district represent one of Casten’s 14 community funding projects that the Downers Grove Democrat secured in fiscal year 2023 through the Environmental Protection Agency. Other projects included $1 million … Continue Reading
January 14, 2024
Sean Casten Holds First 2024 'Tele-Town Hall'
by Lorraine Swanson
Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) will host his first telephone town hall of the year to discuss his goals for 2024, as well as his work in Washington DC and the Illinois’s 6th Congressional District. In 2023, Casten hosted 12 town halls. To view his 2023 year in review click here.Casten will take questions from constituents throughout the town hall. IL-06 includes all or sections of the suburban Cook Count communities of Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Palos Heights, Worth, Crestwood, Oak Forest, Oak … Continue Reading
December 18, 2023
Congressman Casten Plans Last 'Tele-Town Hall' Of Year On Tuesday
by Lorraine Swanson
Join Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) for a telephone town hall at 6:30 p.m. CT Tuesday, Dec. 19. Casten will discuss his work in Washington and the 6th Congressional district throughout 2023 as the year comes to a close, so bring your questions. IL-06 includes all or sections of the suburban Cook Count communities of Alsip, Chicago Ridge, Palos Heights, Worth, Crestwood, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Palos Hills, Palos Heights, Hickory Hills, Justice, and … Continue Reading
December 13, 2023
House Democrats formally unveil vision for energy policy reforms
by Saul Elbein and Rachel Frazin
House Democrats formally outlined what they want the nation’s energy system to look like in a bill filed early Wednesday morning. “We as Democrats have been too silent on what is Democratic energy policy,” Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) told The Hill. Casten framed the bill as his party’s answer to H.R. 1, the Republican-authored energy plan that sought to repeal tax credits for renewables and make it easier to drill for and export fossil fuels — fuels that America’s domestic grid is slowly … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Teachers need higher tax deduction for classroom expenses: Sean Casten
by Rep. Sean Casten
Should a firefighter have to personally pay for the water they use to subdue a fire? Should a librarian have to use their paycheck to purchase books that the public can borrow? Of course not. Then why do we expect teachers to pay for the school supplies necessary to provide an education to our children? Ninety-four percent of public school teachers dig into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies without reimbursement, such as paper, markers, glue, snacks for students, cleaning … Continue Reading
November 06, 2023
House prepares for more debate on climate
by Manuel Quinones and Nidhi Prakrash
The House will debate a host of climate issues this week as it takes up at least two more fiscal 2024 spending bills. The Financial Services-General Government legislation targets the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule to require public companies to disclose their climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation would also claw back money for the General Services Administration to build green buildings and would block the Consumer Product Safety Commission from … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Stopping future crypto-financed terrorism
by Rep. Sean Casten
It’s time to have a serious conversation about the ease of illicit activity in the current cryptocurrency ecosystem. With the ability to anonymously move money around the globe in an instant and a lack of basic regulation in place to prevent illegal use, crypto makes it easy to get significant amounts of money to bad actors for criminal purposes. Last year, illicit crypto use hit over $20 billion. North Korean hackers explicitly targeted crypto to fund their missile program, stealing over … Continue Reading
September 08, 2023
The Democratic battle plan on ESG
by Emma Dumain
When Republicans began trumpeting plans to crack down on green-minded investments following their House takeover, Democrats started preparing a counterattack. The result was the mobilization of the Sustainable Investment Caucus, conceived of as an educational clearinghouse for members of both parties on environmental, social and governance investing, known as ESG. With Republicans wanting to make policy and political gains against the practice, the caucus has become a de facto messaging war … Continue Reading
July 25, 2023
Democrats reintroducing measure to eliminate costs of government IDs
by OLAFIMIHAN OSHIN
A group of Democrat lawmakers have reintroduced a measure that would eliminate the cost barrier to obtaining government IDs, which they hope will help address poverty and unemployment for many Americans. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), backed by the organization Project ID Action Fund, reintroduced HR8821 on Tuesday, along with Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.). The IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act will … Continue Reading
July 03, 2023
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