Press Releases
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
May 22, 2025
Casten, Smith Demand DOJ Investigation Into Trump Crypto Dinner
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Adam Smith (WA-09) led 35 House Democrats in a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Public Integrity Section demanding DOJ immediately launch an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s offer for top investors in his cryptocurrency token, $TRUMP, to join him at a private dinner violates federal bribery laws or the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution. “We write to request an immediate investigation into … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Casten Statement on Republican Bill to Gut Medicaid
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after voting against the House Republican bill to gut Medicaid and roll back Inflation Reduction Act tax credits in order to give a tax cut to Donald Trump and Elon Musk: “The House Republican bill stands to strip over 20,235 people in the 6th Congressional District of their health insurance. It would gut Medicaid - a program that benefits ALL Americans. And, it would cut hundreds of billions of dollars … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Casten, FSC Ranking Member Waters, and 39 Democratic Members Call out Top U.S. Financial Institutions for Abandoning Commitment to Address Growing Climate Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and 39 other Members sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officers of leading U.S. financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Northern Trust, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton Investments, State Street Global Advisors, PIMCO, and Invesco. The letter follows recent … Continue Reading
May 02, 2025
Casten Blasts Trump’s Stoppage of the National Climate Assessment
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration has effectively halted the National Climate Assessment (NCA), a congressionally mandated report on the impacts of climate change on the United States: “The president can attempt to change the laws of the United States, but he cannot change the laws of physics. Climate change is real. It is impacting our health, economy, and national security. It is fueling … Continue Reading
April 30, 2025
Casten, 22 House Democrats Highlight Economic Turmoil Caused by Trump’s Immigration Policies
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) led 22 House Democrats in a letter to President Donald Trump highlighting how his immigration policies have increased the cost of living for Americans. The letter demands that the president reverse course or risk further economic turmoil. “As President, you are tasked with improving the economy and growing the middle class,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, you have exacerbated Americans’ economic distress during your first 100 days in … Continue Reading
April 23, 2025
Casten, Moore, Beyer, Hayes Demand Department of Education Restore Office for Civil Rights
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) led 39 House Democrats in a letter to Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Linda McMahon demanding DOE immediately restore shuttered Office for Civil Rights (OCR) hubs and fulfill its statutory civil rights mandate. “While slashing the Department’s workforce has impacted every aspect of the Department’s role, OCR was particularly hard hit,” the lawmakers wrote. “At … Continue Reading
April 23, 2025
Casten Statement on Senator Durbin’s Retirement
Downers Grove, Illinois — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding Senator Dick Durbin’s announcement that he will not seek re-election: “Senator Dick Durbin’s career of public service is a gold standard for anyone who holds or aspires to hold public office. He has been a model and a mentor. A model in his actions, where he has always led with intellect and humility. And a mentor to all of us learning how to do the job he has done so well. “When I … Continue Reading
April 22, 2025
ON EARTH DAY, CASTEN, SCHATZ INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE COSTS AND FINANCIAL RISKS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced the Climate Change Financial Risk Act, legislation that directs the Federal Reserve to conduct stress tests on large financial institutions to measure their resilience to climate-related financial risks. “Risk is risk—we should not be treating some risks different from others just because they’re hard to quantify. Federal regulators are legally obligated to ensure a stable and … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Casten Statement on Republican Resolution to Cut Medicaid
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the Republican budget resolution: “The Republican budget resolution serves only to cut Medicaid and veterans' health care. No one can vote for this legislation in good conscience and claim otherwise, which is why I will vote … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Casten, Stevens File Discharge Petition to End Musk’s Access to Taxpayer Data
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) filed a discharge petition to start the process to force a vote on the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, House Democrats’ landmark legislation to ensure US private citizens’ data is not subject to reckless and unlawful interference from people like Elon Musk. “Elon Musk has no business accessing American taxpayers’ private data,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “Congress has the tools to serve as a check on this … Continue Reading
April 03, 2025
Casten, Stauber Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Improve Access to Health Care for Aviators
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) introduced two bipartisan bills to improve access to health care for pilots and air traffic controllers. “Pilots and air traffic controllers should not be unfairly penalized for seeking health care by a system that perpetuates a culture of silence,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I’m proud to introduce these bipartisan bills to help bolster the availability of mental health care for aviators, require the FAA to … Continue Reading
March 28, 2025
Casten, Lee, Barragán, McClellan, Lead 100+ Colleagues Demanding EPA Restore Environmental Justice Offices
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Summer Lee (PA-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), and Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) led more than 100 colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding the reversal of the agency’s recently announced decision to eliminate all EPA regional environmental justice offices and programs. The lawmakers urged the EPA to reinstate these critical offices, emphasizing that their closure … Continue Reading
March 27, 2025
Casten, Bennet Reintroduce Bill to Encourage Energy Efficiency in Homes
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) reintroduced the Getting Renewable and Energy Efficient Neighborhoods (GREEN) Appraisals Act, legislation to encourage energy-efficient and clean energy features to be considered as part of the residential home buying and appraisal process. The GREEN Appraisals Act helps home appraisals accurately reflect the value of renewable and energy-efficient features of a property. In addition, the legislation … Continue Reading