Press Releases
Casten Votes No on Three Seditionist Led Bills
Washington DC - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) today voted no on three seditionist-led bills. Although Casten is in general supportive of the content of these bills, he cannot in good conscience vote in support of legislation introduced by those who attempted to overthrow the results of the 2020 election and helped incite the deadly January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. While there were 17 suspensions total on the floor this week, Casten voted no on the following three bills:H.R. 1762 - … Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Casten Questions Climate Experts on the Devastating Economic Costs of Climate Inaction after Report that 8 counties in the US Accounted for 50% of all Flood Insurance
Washington, D.C. – During today's Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing Congressman Sean Casten questioned leading climate experts on the devastating economic cost of climate inaction. Through his questioning, Rep. Casten highlighted the threat to the U.S. economy as projections show that climate change will put communities underwater. Currently in the United States, 40% of Americans live in coastal areas where sea level plays a role in flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards … Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Rep. Casten Votes to Secure Equal Pay for Women, Help Close Gender Wage Gap
Washington, DC - Rep. Casten voted to pass H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, landmark legislation that will help close the gender wage gap by strengthening equal pay protections for women. The bill would create more effective remedies for women who are not being paid equal pay for equal work, including requiring employers to prove that pay disparities exist for legitimate, job-related reasons, new tools for the Department of Labor to enforce pay equity and protections against retaliation for … Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Casten, Warren, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill Requiring Public Companies to Disclose Climate-Related Risks
Bill Text | One-Pager (PDF) Washington, DC - United States Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the Climate Risk Disclosure Act of 2021 which would reduce the chances of environmental and financial catastrophe by requiring public companies to disclose more information about their exposure to climate-related risks. By increasing market transparency, this bill will empower investors to appropriately assess climate-related risks and accelerate the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
New Fact Sheet Highlights Illinois’ Urgent Infrastructure Needs, How the American Jobs Plan Will Help
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Sean Casten highlighted a new fact sheet from the White House which outlines the urgent imperative to address critical infrastructure needs across Illinois. The fact sheet details the number of bridges and miles of road in each state in poor condition, the percentage of households without access to broadband, the billions of dollars required for water infrastructure, and more. These pressing needs underscore the importance of the American Jobs Plan, which will … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Casten Nominates Distinguished 98-year-old Argonne Scientist for Presidential Medal of Freedom
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) was joined by Reps. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), French Hill (R-AR), and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) in nominating distinguished Illinois scientist, Dr. Dieter M. Gruen for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Casten previously nominated Dr. Dieter Gruen on November 21st, 2019, Gruen's 97th birthday and invited him to the 2020 State of the Union Address.Dr. Gruen, now 98-years-old, immigrated to the United States from Nazi Germany … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
American Rescue Plan Listening Tour: Casten Hears from Local Leaders in Education, Health Care, Emergency Response, Business and Social Services
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) visited public school officials, first responders, social service providers, and small business leaders to talk about pandemic hardship and how the American Rescue Plan will help them and the communities they serve. "From young mothers forced to choose between taking care of their children or paying the bills to teachers, students, and workers on the frontlines of this pandemic, Illinoisans have faced unprecedented adversity and … Continue Reading
April 08, 2021
CASTEN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SHUTTERED VENUE OPERATORS GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-6) announced that more help is here for local businesses and jobs as the Small Business Administration's Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program will begin accepting applications on Thursday, April 8th, 2021. Casten helped secure additional funding for the program as part of the American Rescue Plan's support for small businesses. The program includes a total of over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues. Local venue operators can … Continue Reading
April 08, 2021
Casten, Underwood Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Illinois Families Hurt by SALT Deduction Cap
WASHINGTON—Today, Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced legislation to provide tax relief to Illinois families unfairly harmed by changes to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. The Republican tax law enacted in 2017 disproportionately hurt northern Illinoisans by capping the SALT deduction at $10,000. The SALT Fairness for Working Families Act would help affected taxpayers by increasing the current SALT deduction cap, eliminating the marriage … Continue Reading
April 07, 2021
Illinoisans on Social Security to Receive $1,400 Payments Beginning this Week
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that many Social Security recipients and others who have not yet received their Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,400 from the American Rescue Plan should expect to see electronic payments hit their bank accounts or be loaded onto their Direct Express Cards beginning today. Today's latest round of electronic payments applies specifically to those who receive Social Security retirement, survivor or disability (SSDI), … Continue Reading
March 31, 2021
Rep. Casten Applauds the American Jobs Plan
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) today released the following statement after President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. The American jobs plan will invest in America's work-force, revitalize American manufacturing, ensure access to clean water, and build cleaner and more resilient energy and transportation sectors for generations to come. The past year has unmasked the fragility of America's infrastructure, job security, persistent … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
New Casten Bill Will End Taxpayer Subsidies to Oil and Gas Companies
Washington, D.C. —Today, U.S. Reps. Sean Casten (D-IL), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Donald McEachin (D-VA), and Katie Porter (D-CA) reintroduced legislation that would eliminate nearly a dozen of the most egregious tax breaks enjoyed by the oil and gas industry.The oil and gas sectors are some of the world's most profitable industries, with billions of dollars in earnings each year. Despite this success, these fossil fuel companies receive billions in tax breaks and subsidies annually, undermining … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Casten Applauds Federal Regulators for Crucial First Steps to Mitigate Climate-related Financial Risk
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) issued the following statement on the heels of a series of announcements from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve, Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on new climate-risk procedures and resources, signaling intensified focus on threats to the financial system posed by climate change. Casten said, "Just because we're in the middle of one economic crisis doesn't … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
On 11th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Casten Highlights Key Health Care Savings for Illinois Families Thanks to Historic American Rescue Plan
Downers Grove, IL - Today, Rep. Casten marked the 11th anniversary of the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA) by highlighting transformative health care savings for hard-working Illinoisans thanks to the Biden American Rescue Plan. The plan builds on the ACA's critical benefits by lowering the cost of coverage and expanding eligibility for federal subsidies to millions of Americans. "For 11 years, the ACA has stood alongside Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid as a pillar of health and … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
For Illinois Families Help Is On The Way, Rep. Casten Highlights Key Wins for Illinois in Historic American Rescue Plan
March 18, 2021 – Last week, Rep. Casten joined fellow Democrats to pass the landmark American Rescue Plan and send it to President Biden's desk for his signature. Today, Rep. Casten proudly highlights the vital resources that Illinois families and communities will receive to crush the virus, put vaccines in people's arms, money in people's pockets, children safely back in school and workers back in jobs. Casten said, "For over a year, this pandemic and economic crisis have devastated … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Rep. Casten Votes to Pass Two Historic Immigration Bills:
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, two landmark pieces of legislation to modernize and reform our immigration system and secure permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have been, and will continue to be, key to the economic recovery of our nation. "When Ronald Reagan said that the day America stops welcoming immigrants is the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Rep. Casten Votes to Support Equal Rights Amendment and Remove Arbitrary Ratification Deadline, Paving the Way to Enshrine Women’s Equality in the U.S. Constitution
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) issues the following statement after the House vote to pass Rep. Jackie Speier's resolution to facilitate expeditious ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution, H.J. Res. 17.Casten said, "Women have been left out of the Constitution since our country's founding - intentionally. While our nation is built on the fundamental promise of equal justice for all, there is still no federal law prohibiting … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Casten Amendment Passes House, Included in Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten's (IL-06) amendment to help sexual assault victims on college campuses passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of H.R.1620, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2021. The landmark Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ushered in transformative progress by calling for the protection of all Americans from violence and abuse, and working to ensure all victims and survivors have the support they need. This … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Bill to Reduce Climate Change Risk in Financial System Draws Broad Support
Washington—A coalition of financial organizations announced their support for the Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to improve the ability of federal regulators to understand and mitigate risks from climate change within the financial system.The bill is supported by the following groups: Ceres National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders National Conference on Public Employee Retirement … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Casten Statement after President Biden Signs American Rescue Plan into Law:
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after President Biden signed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, into law. The landmark, life-saving legislation will provide urgently needed resources to defeat this virus, get vaccines in people's arms, money in families' pockets, children safely back into classrooms, and put people back to work. The package will provide $13.7 billion for Illinois in state and local funding—including $998.86 … Continue Reading