Press Releases
Casten, Huffman Urge EPA to Halt Operations and Approvals for CCS to Address Systemic Issues
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging EPA to stop approvals and operations for carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities until ongoing systemic problems have been addressed. Recent events regarding CCS, including substantial well failures at the Archer Daniels Midland injection well facility in Decatur, … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Casten Statement on Voting Against the NDAA for FY 2026
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026: “Since the start of the second Trump Administration, we have seen the president use the United States military in American cities for domestic law enforcement. He has taken unilateral military action - such as launching military strikes abroad and in the Caribbean - without the consent of Congress. He has fired qualified, … Continue Reading
September 09, 2025
Casten, Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Education Support Professionals Access FMLA Benefits
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, bipartisan legislation to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) who are currently blocked from accessing FMLA benefits. The FMLA guarantees a segment of the workforce the ability to take unpaid leave to care for their newborns and sick loved ones … Continue Reading
September 08, 2025
Casten’s Bipartisan Pilot Mental Health Bill Passes House
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Sean Casten’s bipartisan Mental Health in Aviation Act, legislation that would expand access to mental health care for pilots and air traffic controllers. Rep. Casten introduced the legislation in April 2025 with Republican Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08). “Aviators should not be unfairly penalized for seeking mental health care. The current system perpetuates a culture of silence, and it’s past time that … Continue Reading
September 08, 2025
Casten Offers NDAA Amendment to Address Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that would prohibit funds from being sent to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization at the center of the starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The amendment also directs the State Department to ensure humanitarian assistance for Gaza is coordinated through established international organizations. GHF is a private group … Continue Reading
September 04, 2025
Casten Statement on Trump’s Plan to Deploy Troops to Chicago
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on President Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago: “Addressing crime and keeping the American people safe is one of the most important responsibilities of the federal government. But the president’s plan to deploy National Guard troops into Chicago isn’t about that. It’s about intimidating the people of Illinois, getting Americans used to the sight of soldiers with guns patrolling our … Continue Reading
August 26, 2025
Casten Statement on Trump’s Attempted Firing of Fed Governor
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s attempted firing of Lisa Cook from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve: “The stability of the US financial system is reliant on our regulators being able to operate without fear of partisan politics. The president's attempted removal of a Federal Reserve governor is unprecedented. It will rattle … Continue Reading
August 12, 2025
Casten, 104 House Democrats Demand EPA Reinstate Suspended Employees
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 104 House Democrats in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding the EPA immediately reinstate employees who were unfairly placed on administrative leave for signing a letter urging the Trump Administration to prioritize public health and the environment. In June 2025, over 270 EPA employees wrote a letter to Administrator Zeldin criticizing the Trump Administration’s efforts to politicize … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Casten Statement on Netanyahu’s Plan to Occupy Gaza
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza: “I strongly oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza. This would only deepen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip and recklessly endanger the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. A full military occupation is not a strategy for peace or security—it is a path to … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Casten: Kristi Noem Is Not Welcome In IL-06
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s visit to Illinois’ 6th Congressional District: "Kristi Noem's racism and xenophobia have no place in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. Her failures at the Department of Homeland Security harm American families and will have lasting, negative ripple effects on the American economy. The only reason she has her job is because she is so doggone … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
Casten, 92 House Democrats Demand Oversight Into Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 92 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation into the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A copy of the letter can be found here. GHF is a U.S.-linked aid organization with no prior experience in humanitarian aid and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Casten, Schrier Urge Insurers to Maintain Vaccine Coverage
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Kim Schrier, MD(WA-08) led 77 House Democrats in a letter to top health insurance companies urging them to continue to provide coverage for vaccines currently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In June 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of ACIP. This was alarming, given Secretary Kennedy’s longstanding history of vaccine skepticism and cozy … Continue Reading
July 22, 2025
Casten Bill to Support Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Passes Financial Services Committee
Washington, D.C. — The House Committee on Financial Services voted to approve the Developing and Empowering our Aspiring Leaders (DEAL) Act, bipartisan legislation led by Democratic Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) that would support innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital formation. “The DEAL Act increases capital flows to smaller venture capital funds by providing greater flexibility to fund managers, while still ensuring that investors are … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Casten, 16 House Democrats FOIA Request EPA for Info on Employee Firings, Rollbacks
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 16 House Democrats in submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for details of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s efforts to slow-walk the promulgation and enforcement of public health standards. “At your January 16 confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, you pledged to be ‘transparent and accountable to Congress and the public,’” the lawmakers wrote. … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Casten Introduces Bill to Combat Illicit Activity in DeFi
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Compliant Operations of Decentralized Entities (CODE) Act of 2025, legislation to combat illicit activity and address cybersecurity concerns associated with decentralized finance (DeFi). “We cannot ignore the illicit activity currently ongoing within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, like North Korean hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in DeFi systems to steal cryptocurrency and fund their nuclear weapons program,” … Continue Reading
July 03, 2025
Casten Statement on Republican Budget Betrayal
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the Republican budget betrayal: “This bill forces us to borrow $5 trillion to pay for a tax cut for billionaires. It will make seniors who depend on Meals on Wheels and children who get free lunch at school go hungry. It will shut down nursing homes and hospitals because of cuts to the Medicaid system. It strips over 17 million Americans of their health insurance. It raises energy … Continue Reading
June 26, 2025
Casten, Booker Reintroduce Legislation Banning Inequitable Calculations of Civil Damages
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act, legislation to prohibit the consideration of race, ethnicity, gender, or actual or perceived sexual orientation when calculating damages in civil lawsuits. "It is unacceptable that our courts often award less in damages to women and people of color than white men in comparable civil cases,” said Congressman Casten. "In doing so, our … Continue Reading
June 25, 2025
Casten Introduces Package of Legislation to Reform American Democracy
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced a package of legislation to reform American democracy by increasing the size of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, as well as restoring the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to better align with Article III of the US Constitution. A one-page summary of the legislation can be found here. The legislation - two bills and a constitutional amendment - would: Establish 12 at-large senators to be elected … Continue Reading
June 24, 2025
Casten, Beatty, Kiggans Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Empower Women in Abusive Situations
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) introduced the bipartisan Financial Empowerment and Protection Act, legislation to remove barriers to the financial insights often necessary for people to leave abusive relationships safely. “Far too often, we hear of victims of abuse who feel trapped in their situation due to limited or no insight into their household finances,” said Congressman Casten. “This bipartisan … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Bipartisan Casten Pilot Mental Health Bill Passes House Transportation Committee
Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted to approve the Mental Health in Aviation Act, bipartisan legislation introduced and championed by U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Pete Stauber (MN-08). “Current Federal Aviation Administration regulations perpetuate a culture of silence and unfairly penalize aviators who seek mental health care,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “My bipartisan bill with Rep. Pete Stauber bolsters access to mental health … Continue Reading