Press Releases
Casten Statement on Passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after the House passed the bipartisan H.R. 6201 the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a second measure to help the country combat COVID-19 or novel coronavirus pandemic.The legislation includes free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, paid emergency leave with two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, additional access to food assistance … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
New Democrat Coalition Continues Leadership on Climate Change
Washington, DC - Today, the New Democrat Coalition (NDC), led by NDC Chair Derek Kilmer, NDC Vice Chair Scott Peters, and NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild, endorsed an additional slate of bills. This package of bills presents forward-looking, politically durable solutions. With these endorsements, the NDC continues its leadership on climate change with a robust legislative agenda that builds on the NDC Priorities for U.S. Climate … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Casten Statement on Passage of Bill Combating the Youth Vaping Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2339 the Protecting American Lungs and Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 by a vote of 213-195. Casten said, "When nearly 30% of high school students self-report e-cigarette use, there is no question that youth vaping has become an absolute epidemic in this country. For years, the tobacco companies have developed specific flavors of e-cigarettes and … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Casten Condemns the Senate’s Consideration of Anti-Choice Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement condemning the U.S. Senate's vote to end debate on two bills designed to limit abortion rights, S. 3275 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and S. 311 the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.S. 3275 would ban a woman from seeking a safe, legal abortion after 20 weeks and S. 311 would amend the criminal code for medical professionals who do not provide medical care for a child … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Casten, Group of Bipartisan Colleagues Seek Assistance for Federal Workers Needing Paid Family Leave in 2020
Glen Ellyn, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06), along with U.S. Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and Peter King (R-NY-02) sent a bipartisan letter to several federal agencies requesting assistance for federal workers who will need paid family leave.While last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included parental leave for federal employees, the policy does not go into effect until the new fiscal year starting October 1st, 2020, leaving … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Casten Statement on Removing the Deadline for Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after the House passed H.J. Res. 79 by a bipartisan vote of 232-183. The resolution would remove the arbitrary 1982 deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.Casten said, "Today, I was incredibly proud to vote for the resolution and stand with women across the United States, giving them this critical legal tool to combat every day … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Casten’s Promoting Grid Storage Act Considered at Energy Subcommittee on House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten's (IL-06) Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019 was considered at the Energy Subcommittee on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Earlier this year, Casten introduced the bipartisan, bicameral bill with U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), which would boost research and development of cutting-edge technologies to increase energy storage capabilities for America's electric grid and enable the expanded use of clean energy. Casten said, … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Casten Introduces Bill to Reduce Gun Trafficking
Washington, D.C. - Today, in honor of the victims of the Aurora, Illinois shooting that occurred this week last year, U.S Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Ted Deutch (FL-22) introduced the Gun Trafficker Detection Act. The bill would create a federal requirement that gun owners must report their gun if lost or stolen within 48 hours. This helps law enforcement identify and prosecute traffickers, who often claim their gun was lost or stolen when it turns up at a … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Casten’s Clean Industrial Technology Act Passes Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten's (D-IL-06) Clean Industrial Technology Act (CITA) passed unanimously in the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology (SST). In July, Rep. Casten introduced the bipartisan, bicameral bill that would spur innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources and make American companies more competitive in the global economy. Casten, a member on the SST Committee, spoke in favor of the bill today. To watch … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Casten Questions Chairman Powell About What Actions the Fed is Taking to Combat the Systemic Climate-Related Risks in Our Financial System
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) questioned Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell in the House Committee on Financial Services (FSC) about the systemic risks climate change poses to the U.S. and global financial sector and what, if any, action the Fed is taking to mitigate that risk. It is estimated that global economic losses from the effects of climate change will total nearly $23 billion. Without factoring in the debt securing that property and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Casten Statement on President Trump’s FY2021 Budget Request
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released President Trump's $4.8 Trillion budget request for fiscal year 2021 (FY2021).Casten said, "The release of President Trump's $4.8 Trillion budget proposal today, demonstrates once again the President's continued attacks to critical programs that help the health and economic security of hardworking Americans. At the same time, the President's … Continue Reading
February 06, 2020
Casten Votes to Strengthen Protections for Workers
Washington D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO) Act. The bill protects and expands workers' power to stand together and negotiate for bigger paychecks, better benefits, and safer working conditions. It also closes loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers, strengthens workers' access to fair union elections, and requires corporations to respect union election results. Casten said, "From 1980 to 2017, the average … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Casten Statement on State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union address:Casten said, "My guest tonight, a man who escaped Nazi Germany, Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen, has dedicated his life to protecting our national security, and advancing scientific research to combat challenges like climate change. He is an American hero."In November, I nominated him for a Presidential Medal of Freedom. And tonight, we had to watch the President … Continue Reading
January 31, 2020
Casten Announces Distinguished Scientist Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen as State of the Union Guest
Glen Ellyn, IL. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced today that his guest to the annual State of the Union address will be German-American scientist Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen. Dr. Gruen currently lives in Downers Grove, Illinois. Dr. Gruen, 97-years-old, immigrated to the United States from Nazi Germany in 1936. In his long career as a renowned scientist, Dr. Gruen worked to enhance American technology development through his time with the Manhattan Project and at Argonne National … Continue Reading
January 30, 2020
Casten Introduces Bill to Ensure Energy Prices Reflect the Full Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Energy Prices Require Including Climate Externalities (Energy PRICE) Act. The bill would clarify that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the responsibility to ensure that public electric utilities take into account greenhouse gas emissions when setting their utility rates.Under the Federal Power Act (FPA), Congress granted FERC the authority and responsibility to ensure that the rates charged by … Continue Reading
January 30, 2020
Casten Statement on Votes to Ensure Proper Congressional Oversight for National Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) issued the following statement after voting in favor of two amendments that would prohibit federal funds from being used for military operations against Iran without Congressional approval or as consistent with the 1974 War Powers Resolution, and to repeal the outdated 2002 Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF). With these votes, American troops will continue their operations against Al Qaeda and ISIS, maintain their regional footprint … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Casten Statement on Voting Against Expanding Mandatory Minimums and Calling for Solutions on Comprehensive Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten issued the following statement after voting against S. 3201, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act, which would extend the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) temporary order for fentanyl related substances, which affords significant mandatory minimum prison time and provides resources for the prosecution and funding for those who transport trace amounts of this deadly drug.Casten said, "We are … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Casten, Durbin, Duckworth Urge DeVos to Ban Harmful Student Seclusion, Restraint Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06), along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), led a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, asking the Department to issue federal guidance banning public schools' use of seclusion and restraint practices that restrict student's breathing and create other life-threatening conditions.This letter follows a November 2019 joint report by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois that revealed that … Continue Reading
January 09, 2020
Casten Votes for War Powers Resolution
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after he voted for H. Con. Res. 83, the War Powers Resolution. The resolution would require the President to cease military actions against Iran unless authorized by Congress or in response to an imminent threat. The resolution reasserts Congress' long-established authority by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration's military hostilities with regard to … Continue Reading
January 03, 2020
Casten Statement on Airstrike in Iraq Against High-Level Iranian Military Officials
Glen Ellyn, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten issued the following statement after the Trump Administration conducted an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport targeting senior Iranian officials, including the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Qassim Soleimani:"Protecting Americans at home and abroad is of the utmost importance. Soleimani was an enemy to America, but reckless action without a meaningful plan to navigate this dangerous and complicated threat will only … Continue Reading