Press Releases
Casten Applauds USDA Approval of Illinois Food Bank Disaster Distribution Plan
Downers Grove, IL - Yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Illinois' Disaster Distribution Plan, allowing food banks the flexibility they need to serve their communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. After similar efforts were denied, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) joined members of the Illinois delegation urging the plan's approval.Organizations serving the 6th District including the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes Community Services … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Foster, Casten Urge Leadership to Guarantee Equitable Funding in Future COVID-19 Stimulus Packages
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Bill Foster (IL-11) led a bipartisan letter to House leadership urging equitable per-capita distribution of funds to states in any future stimulus package. The CARES Act was an essential step to protect Americans and support our economy, but because the Senate incorporated a very inequitable spending formula for emergency grants to states and municipalities, the CARES Act left large-population states with fewer resources … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Casten Applauds Millions in Coronavirus Emergency Funds For Illinois Education
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that Illinois will receive $108 million in emergency education funding through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and $437 million in emergency funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. The funds were made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that Casten supported.Through the CARES Act, $3 billion was allocated directly to states to provide relief … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Casten Urges FEMA to Provide Data Behind the Distribution of PPE, Ventilators
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and Region V Members of Congress received an update from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a conference call in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is the fifth call FEMA has held for Region V Members.Following the April 2nd call, Casten sent a letter to FEMA Region V Administrator, James Joseph, requesting more details on the epidemiological models FEMA is using to prioritize the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Casten Statement on Need for Additional Funding Toward PPP, Hospitals, Frontline Workers
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) exhausting funding for loans to American small businesses and the importance of providing critical funding to hospitals and states and localities on the frontlines. Casten said, "As small businesses continue to feel the economic strain from the coronavirus, we need to work together to provide immediate relief and … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Casten, Illinois Members Slam EPA Decision on Air Quality Standards
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement that it will not strengthen the particulate matter national air quality standard:"The science is clear: fine particle pollution is a public health … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Casten Outlines Priorities to be Included in the CARES 2 Stimulus Package
Downers Grove, IL - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Leader Kevin McCarthy urging them to include various priorities in the next stimulus relief package to help families and 6th District residents impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In the letter, Casten highlights the need for increased resources for our healthcare providers, personal protective equipment (PPE), expansion of testing, support for senior living facilities, … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Casten, Illinois Democratic Congressional Delegation to Trump Administration: Racial Disparities in Covid-19 Cases & Deaths are Unacceptable
WASHINGTON - Today, the Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar expressing strong concerns regarding the racial disparities that exist in COVID-19 cases and deaths in Illinois and across the nation. The members cited that while black residents make up nearly 15 percent of the state's total population, they account for 43 percent of all COVID-19 deaths. The situation in Chicago is … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Casten, AARP Illinois Address Concerns of Older Adults in Telephone Town Hall
Downers Grove, IL - Recognizing the mounting fear and isolation felt by Illinois residents 60+, who are at increased risk for serious illness from the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and family physician and Board Member of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Kate Rowland held a live telephone town hall with thousands of older adults from the 6th Illinois Congressional District on Monday.The telephone town hall offered participants a chance … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Casten Leads Letter Demanding Social Media Platforms Do More to Stop the Spread of Deadly COVID-19 Misinformation Online
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) led a letter to major social media companies including Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Twitter, calling on them to do more to prevent the dangerous spread of information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).The letter said in part, "In the midst of a global pandemic, we write to you today concerned about the spread of misinformation on your media platforms. We applaud your efforts to collaborate on best practices to help … Continue Reading
April 06, 2020
Casten Urges FERC to Challenge Changes to Federal Power Market Regulations
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) wrote Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chair Chatterjee concerning FERC's proposed rule changes to federal power markets. The changes overstep FERC's authority, and would make it harder to fund renewable power generation capacity.Casten wrote, in part, "…FERC does not have the authority to implement the rules contemplated in this NOPR. FERC's role is not to decide whether a law is still relevant, but to ensure those … Continue Reading
April 04, 2020
Casten Supports Fix for Teens, Young Adults Left out of Recovery Rebates
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) says a tax filing definition in the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act denies recovery rebates to thousands of Illinois young adults who need it. He is supporting a bipartisan measure that would correct it and make their families eligible for the $500 per child recovery rebates."While the CARES Act moved decisively to provide relief to many Americans, too many young adults were left out. I am … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Casten Holds Second Telephone Town Hall on COVID-19
Downers Grove, IL - Last night, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) held his second telephone town hall focused on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During the town hall, he delivered a brief update on efforts in Congress to address the coronavirus, took constituent questions regarding the pandemic, and heard from local experts about guidance and recommendations for 6th district residents.The Congressman was joined by officials from the Illinois Governor's Office, Illinois … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Casten Joins Underwood, Durbin, Duckworth, Members of the Illinois Delegation to Urge Trump Administration to Implement A Federally Coordinated Effort to Meet Illinois’ Need for Personal Protective Equipment
DOWNERS GROVE, IL— Today, Congressman Casten joined Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Senators Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and the Illinois delegation in a letter to President Trump, urging the Administration to immediately implement a federally coordinated effort to meet Illinois' need for personal protective equipment (PPE). In the letter, members outlined the life-threatening shortage of respirators, masks, protective eyewear, face shields, gloves, gowns, and … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Casten Statement on Passage of the CARES Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan H.R. 748, the CARES Act, a third measure to help combat COVID-19 or novel coronavirus pandemic. The package contains $2 trillion in aid to individuals, businesses, and states. Casten said, "Today I voted for the bipartisan CARES Act. While I'm pleased the bill includes increased funding for state and local governments, and more funds for our families and workers, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Casten Hosts Webinar for Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19
Downers Grove, IL - Yesterday U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) hosted a skype webinar with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Illinois District Director, Robert Steiner, to provide resources and answer questions for small businesses across Illinois' 6th District affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.The webinar featured guidance on how local businesses and non-profit organizations can apply for Economic Impact Disaster Loans offered by SBA. Casten voted for the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Casten Introduces Bill to Ensure Companies Invest in Economy and Workers During COVID-19 Emergency
Downers Grove, IL- Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced a bill to temporarily ban stock buybacks until the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the American financial system has ended.Casten said, "As the nation is fighting a pandemic and the economy is on the brink of recession, we must insist that companies invest in the broader economy and support workers instead of enriching their executives and shareholders. Temporarily banning stock buybacks for the duration of the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Casten Joins Bipartisan Group Calling on DeVos to Protect Students From Financial Impacts of COVID-19
Downers Grove, IL- Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) joined a bipartisan group of 72 lawmakers calling on Secretary DeVos to take steps to ensure that the financial burden of university closures and migration to remote learning do not result in financial burdens for students. In recent weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced institutions of higher education across the country to implement remote learning, end study abroad programs, and close on campus housing. These difficult but … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Casten, Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration to Approve Federal Loan Assistance for Illinois in Response to Coronavirus
WASHINGTON - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for Illinois amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of this week, more than 100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Illinois, and Governor Pritzker has ordered the closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars, and prohibited gatherings of 50 people or … Continue Reading
March 14, 2020
Congressman Casten Implements Office Changes in Response to COVID-19
Glen Ellyn, IL. - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) sent the following updates on COVID-19 and recent changes to his Washington, D.C., Glen Ellyn district office, and Barrington satellite office operations to his constituents. These changes have been implemented in order to protect the health of his constituents as well as prevent the potential spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Congressman Casten and staff will continue to serve the 6th District of Illinois. To do so … Continue Reading