Press Releases
DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, CASTEN CALL ON EPA TO USE ITS AUTHORITY & PREVENT USE OF ETHYLENE OXIDE AT STERIGENICS
Members also call on EPA to immediately begin ambient air monitoring at the Medline and Vantage facilities in Lake County In response to an Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) report that detailed evidence that residents of Willowbrook, Illinois, have higher incidences of certain cancers associated with exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) in comparison to the rest of the state, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bill … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Casten Delivers Floor Speech on H.R.1, Cites Nixon ‘People have to Got to Know Whether or not Their President is a Crook’
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) delivered a Floor speech on H.R. 1, the For the People Act, that passed the House last Friday. H.R. 1 would require candidates for President and Vice President to disclose their tax returns. The Illinois state legislature have been working on legislation that would include this specific idea on the ballot. To watch my full speech, click the image above or click here. Casten said, "Just last week, we passed H.R. 1, the For the People … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Casten Cosponsors Each Woman Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) took another key step toward keeping his pledge to support women's choice and undo the discriminatory Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment - named after anti-choice ideologue Henry Hyde who formerly represented the 6th District - has, since 1976, blocked the use of federal funding for abortion services. Casten cosponsored the pro-choice Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act, a bill to reverse the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2019
Casten Statement on President Trump’s FY2020 Budget Request
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after President Trump submitted his Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request.Casten said, "The President's budget is just another con job. It promises to make everything better, but it cuts a long list of investments needed to grow the economy - education and training, scientific research, and infrastructure. This proposal continues to push to undo hard-fought gains in affordable health care for all Americans. … Continue Reading
March 08, 2019
Casten Votes for H.R.1, For the People Act
Washington, D.C - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted for H.R.1, the For the People Act. The bill is a historic reform package intended to restore the promise of our nation's democracy, end the culture of corruption in Washington, and reduce the role of money in politics to return the power back to the American people.Casten said, "Today I was proud to support H.R. 1 the For the People Act. It is the biggest re-imagination of government in my lifetime and is intended to … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019
Casten Statement on Anti-Discrimination Resolution
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after he voted yes on the anti-discrimination resolution.Casten said, "Today I voted yes on this resolution condemning hatred of all stripes. And I'm not proud of that vote. Not because I don't condemn racism and hatred. Of course I do. But because this vote serves only to allow those of good character to affirm what we already know to be true while giving cover to those of bad character to hate. And … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Casten, Underwood Stand with Individual Tax Filers Introducing a Bill to Extend the Tax Filing Deadline
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced the Taxpayer Extension Act to give American taxpayers an additional five weeks, until May 20, to file their individual tax returns for 2018."Americans deserve a government that works for them. When President Trump shutdown the government for 5 weeks, Americans were left high and dry," Casten said. "When tax filers - many hit with sticker shock thanks to the Trump tax changes -- called … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Casten Named New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force Co-Chair
Washington, DC - Today, the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Don Beyer, Sean Casten, Elaine Luria, and Susan Wild released their goals for the 116th Congress. The Climate Change Task Force will meet with stakeholders and develop policy positions for the Coalition to advance in both the near term and long term.Climate change Task Force Mission Statement for the 116th Congress:Climate change is an existential threat to the health, national security, economic prosperity, … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
Casten Meets with EPA Region 5 Administrator Kathy Stepp
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Kathy Stepp, to urge the agency to fulfill its mission to ensure the safety of our communities, including the 6th District of Illinois. , the Congressman was particularly critical of the EPA's failure to thoroughly investigate the threat of ethylene oxide emissions at the Sterigenics facility in the town of Willowbrook. Casten currently serves on the House … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, FOSTER, LIPINSKI, SCHNEIDER, CASTEN, PRESS ATSDR FOR UPDATED HEALTH REPORT FOR WILLOWBROOK
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today requested that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conduct another site-specific Health Consultation for Willowbrook, Illinois, based on the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ethylene oxide (EtO) ambient air measurements from November 2018 - … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Casten Votes to Close ‘Charleston Loophole’ Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted in favor of H.R. 1112, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen background checks on guns sales. The bill would close the "Charleston Loophole" by preventing gun sales from proceeding if a background check isn't completed within three days, as allowed under current law. In 2015, nine innocent people were murdered at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a gunman who would not have … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Casten Votes for Bipartisan Gun Control Legislation, Delivers Floor Speech Honoring Aurora Victims
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted in favor of H.R. 8, a bipartisan bill that would strengthen background checks on guns sales. The bill would require universal background checks for all gun sales, closing the "gun-show" loophole. It would require any firearm transfer between unrelated, unlicensed individuals — such as a buyer and seller at a gun show — to be conducted through a licensed dealer, who is required to perform the background check on the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Casten Statement on Vote to Terminate Trump’s Emergency Declaration
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted in favor of H.J.Res 46, legislation to terminate President Trump's emergency declaration. Casten said, "In declaring a national emergency to divert funds from Congressionally approved military projects to build his wall, the President has grabbed authorities that the Constitution vests not in the Executive Branch but in the Legislative Branch. It is the people's directly elected representatives who hold the purse strings. … Continue Reading
February 22, 2019
Casten Reacts to New Data from U.S. EPA’s Ambient Air Monitoring in the Town of Willowbrook
West Chicago, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after new data was released from U.S EPA's ambient air monitoring in Willowbrook following the IEPA's recent seal order.Casten said, "Even before I was elected to Congress, I was calling for swift, decisive action to address reports of elevated emissions at the Willowbrook Sterigenics plant. As more -- and apparently conflicting -- data is released, the more distressing and inadequate I find the EPA's … Continue Reading
February 19, 2019
Casten Statement on Shooting in Aurora
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the shooting at Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois.Casten said, "In tragedy, we - mere human beings - seek answers. It is, as they say, human nature. We want to know why. Why did someone commit this unthinkable act?How could someone not have done more to stop it? What if….In the aftermath of gun tragedies like the one in Aurora, the questions pile up. I speak now as a scientist and a … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Casten, Underwood to Host Joint Town Hall
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced today they will host a town hall on Monday, February 18th at McHenry County College. WHEN:Monday, February 18, 20197-8:30 p.m. CTDoors open at 6:30 p.m.WHERE: McHenry County CollegeLuecht Conference Center, Room B-1708900 US-14Crystal Lake, IL … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Casten Delivers First Major Speech on Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) today delivered his first major floor speech on climate change. Casten's top priorities in Congress include tackling climate change by reducing CO2 emissions and he has been calling for expedited action to address the looming threat. Casten currently serves on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.To watch Casten's speech, click the image above or click here. Casten, in part, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Casten Joins Congressman Golden to Introduce New Bill to Stop Drug Companies’ Unfair Price Hikes, Address Rising Rx Costs in America
WASHINGTON — As Americans struggle with ever-increasing healthcare costs, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) joined Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02) to introduce a bill today to help address unfair price hikes for prescription drugs. The legislation imposes penalties on pharmaceutical companies who harm consumers with sudden, exorbitant price increases and promotes competition among manufacturers to lower drug prices.Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Gil Cisneros (CA-39), and Max Rose (NY-11) also … Continue Reading
February 12, 2019
Casten, Senators Durbin, Duckworth, Reps. Schneider, Foster, Lipinski Introduce Bills to Hold EPA Accountable for Poor Oversight of Ethylene Oxide Emissions
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06), today introduced a pair of bicameral bills that would hold the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accountable for its poor oversight of ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions, which have been the source of harmful emissions in Illinois. Durbin and Schneider led the introduction of a … Continue Reading
February 08, 2019
CASTEN, DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, FOSTER, LIPINSKI, SCHNEIDER, PRESS STERIGENICS FOR ANSWERS ABOUT CLAIMS FROM EX-EMPLOYEES
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today pressed Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigenics, Inc. for answers about a CBS Chicago report where ex-employees of Sterigenics alleged rampant wrong-doing by facility supervisors, such as releasing ethylene oxide (EtO) directly into the atmosphere without proper pollution control equipment, … Continue Reading