Press Releases
Casten Secures $14.7 Million in Federal Funding for IL-06 as Part of House Democrats’ INVEST in America Act, Passed Today
Downers Grove, Illinois - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that $14.7 million in transportation funding projects for Illinois' 6th Congressional district was included in the 5-year federal surface transportation legislation, the INVEST in America Act, passed by the House today. The legislation proposes transformational investments in our roads, bridges, transit, rail, and wastewater and drinking water infrastructure to modernize our infrastructure, create jobs, and reduce … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Casten Opens Hearing on Solving the Climate Crisis Through Much Needed Investments in Transportation Infrastructure, Highlighting Need for Market-Based Electric Vehicle Incentives to Lower Costs for Consumers
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) highlighted the need for market-based electric vehicle incentives to lower costs for consumers in the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing on "Transportation Investments for Solving the Climate Crisis." Rep. Casten also emphasized the need to invest in Chicago's rail commuter lines, which often face delays to freight trains. "One of the great frustrations in Chicago is, I think, something like 40% of rail freight … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021
Financial Services Committee Holds Hearing on Climate Change Systemic Risk to Financial System, Uplifting Casten’s Two Bills on the Issue
Washington, DC – Today the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions held a hearing on the grave and imminent threat climate change poses to the U.S. financial system—focusing on the dire need for federal regulators to build resilience within our banking and financial system to protect our broader economy. Of the three bills noticed for the hearing, two were introduced by U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL): H.R. 1549, … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Casten Votes to Pass Overhaul of Trump-Era Pollution Standards
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to restore critical protections to limit methane pollution that were gutted by the Trump Administration. The House took this important action by passing Resolution of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act, S.J. Res. 14. Rep. Casten was a co-sponsor of the House version of this bill, H.J. Res. 34."The standards put forth by the Trump Administration ignored science, ignored the climate crisis, and ignored the environment … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Casten Leads IL Delegation Inviting National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy on Midwest Climate Innovation Tour
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led the Illinois Congressional Delegation to invite National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy for a tour of Midwestern climate innovation. As the Biden administration highlights the economic and environmental imperative to prioritize climate in the American Jobs Plan, the delegation is inviting McCarthy to tour Illinois to provide her with an opportunity to learn more about the Midwestern powerhouse for climate innovation, entrepreneurship, and … Continue Reading
June 22, 2021
Casten, Underwood, Foster, Hold Press Conference on Child Tax Credits Encouraging Illinois Families to Sign Up for Newly Expanded Benefit
WEST CHICAGO— U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) hosted a press conference on the newly expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), encouraging Illinois families to apply for the benefit which was expanded under the American Rescue Plan to help families and reduce child poverty. The Child Tax Credit will benefit over 2.5 million Illinois children, lifting $153,000 children out of poverty across our state. The families of … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Casten’s Climate Risk Disclosure Act Passes House
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2021, H.R. 2570, legislation introduced by Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) to require public companies to disclose information about their exposure to climate-related risks. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has championed this issue alongside Casten, introducing the Senate companion bill, S.1217. Despite escalating calls for action from scientists, economists, business leaders, and … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Reps. Sean Casten and Mike Levin Lead Letter Urging SEC to Require Public Corporations to Disclose Climate Change Risks
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Mike Levin (D-CA) led a letter urging the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to adopt rules requiring public companies to provide climate-related disclosures and analysis in their annual filings to the SEC. Also today, the House is expected to consider legislation introduced by Rep. Casten and cosponsored by Rep. Levin to strengthen corporate transparency and expand mandatory disclosures in the environmental, social, … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Casten, Warren Submit Comments to SEC To Require Public Companies to Disclose Climate Related Risk
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) submitted a comment letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)'s request for public comment on climate disclosures, highlighting several climate-related financial priorities for the Commission to consider. The letter, submitted to the SEC on Friday, detailed the severity of the threat of climate change in our financial system, specifically our U.S. capital markets. The current voluntary … Continue Reading
June 11, 2021
Casten, Durbin, Foster, Quigley Discuss Fair Housing, Racial and Economic Segregation at Elmhurst Art Museum
Elmhurst, Illinois — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Bill Foster, Congressman Mike Quigley, and local housing leaders held a conversation on fair housing at the Elmhurst Art Museum's exhibit "In Focus: The Chicago Freedom Movement and the Fight for Fair Housing." The exhibit highlights historical and contemporary responses to fair housing in the Chicagoland area, beginning with the crucial Chicago Freedom Movement. Elmhurst Art Museum released a video of … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Casten Helps Secure Over $900,000 for Energy Startups in the Midwest
Downers Grove, IL — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten announced that the Midwest Regional Innovation Partnership, a project by Clean Energy Trust, Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University, mHUB, and Spark Innovation Center, was selected for an award of over $900,000 from the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC). The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT)."Having begun my clean energy career in the … Continue Reading
June 07, 2021
Casten Infrastructure Projects Worth $14.7 Million Selected to Move Forward
Downers Grove, Illinois - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten announced he secured $14.7 million in transportation infrastructure funding projects for Illinois' 6th Congressional district. These specific Member Designated Project (MDP) projects were selected by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to be included in their 5-year federal surface transportation legislation, the INVEST in America Act. This legislation now heads to markup."I'm proud to announce $14.7 million in … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Casten Pushes Secretary of Energy Granholm to Do What’s Scientifically Necessary to Protect Americans Against Climate Crisis
Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) questioned Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm during today's Science, Space, and Technology hearing on Science and Energy Research at the U.S. Department of Energy. In his questioning, Casten reiterated the importance that policies included in the President's American Jobs Plan meet the ambitious and necessary emissions reduction goals the Administration has issued. Casten asked Granholm if the President's plans were ambitious … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Reps. Casten, Foster Hold Press Conference with Students and Faculty from Local Colleges Receiving Funding Under the American Rescue Plan
Downers Grove, IL – Today U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Bill Foster (IL-11) held a press conference alongside students and faculty from local colleges and universities who will receive emergency funding under the American Rescue Plan to help them cope with the severe financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. At least half of the funding each institution receives will be distributed in the form of emergency grants to students who are facing hunger, homelessness, and other … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Casten Grills Megabank CEOs on Fossil Fuel Investments
Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) questioned bank CEOs from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Chase during the House Financial Services Committee Hearing entitled, "Holding Megabanks Accountable: An Update on Banking Practices, Programs, and Policies." All six banks that appeared before today's hearing have pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, aligning their financing with a core goal of the Paris … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
CASTEN, SCHATZ REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ENSURE U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM IS PREPARED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2021. The legislation will direct the Federal Reserve ("Fed") to conduct stress tests on large financial institutions to measure their resilience to climate-related financial risks.Climate change poses a grave and imminent threat to the stability of our financial system. It is essential that our regulators establish parameters so that our financial … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Rep. Casten Recognizes Local 5th Grade Class for Dedication to Science, State Rock Election
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) addressed the House to honor the dedication to science of Jennifer Lauermann and her 5th grade class at Pleasantville Middle School in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Ms. Lauermann's class spent this past year studying rocks. They met with geologists and other scientists throughout Illinois, but discovered that Illinois did not have a state rock. In an effort to officially choose a state rock, they conducted an election between Sandstone, … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Casten Applauds President Biden for Executive Order to Address Climate Risk
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after President Biden announced an Executive Order directing federal agencies to analyze and mitigate the risk climate change poses to the economy. Casten said, "As someone who's fought tirelessly for federal action on climate risk since I've been in Congress, I am thrilled to see President Biden take action to ensure that the right rules are in place to properly analyze and mitigate climate risks, … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Financial Regulators confirm that Climate Risk Warrants Action
Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) questioned Vice Chairman of Supervision, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Randal Quarles and Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu on what action is being taken to address climate risk within the financial system during today's House Financial Services Committee Hearing on Oversight of Prudential Regulators. Responding to a comment made earlier in the hearing by … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Casten joins 138 House Democrats in Calling for Biden to Take Decisive Action to Immediately End the Violence in Israel and Gaza
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten joined 138 House Democrats in a letter to President Biden calling for him and his Administration to boldly lead and take decisive action to immediately end the violence in Israel and Gaza. A copy of the signed letter can be found below and linked here. Letter Text: Dear President Biden, As members of Congress who care deeply about the security and freedom of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, we call on you and your Administration to … Continue Reading