Press Releases
Casten Speaks at Glen Ellyn Metra Station Ceremony
Glen Ellyn, IL - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) spoke at a ceremony at the Glen Ellyn Metra Station in order to announce and celebrate $14.4 million in funding that will be used to modernize the existing station and add improvements, such as a pedestrian underpass. These improvements will enhance accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), pedestrian safety, and expand ridership capabilities. Earlier this year, Rep. Casten wrote a letter of … Continue Reading
November 25, 2019
Casten, Durbin, Duckworth, Lipinski, Foster, Schneider, Underwood Ask EPA to Issue Stronger Standards For ETO Emissions
Glen Ellyn, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) joined U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), as well as U.S. Representatives Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Bill Foster (D-IL- 11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to better protect communities from ethylene oxide (EtO) emitted by industrial processes. The members, in a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew … Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Casten, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Ensure U.S. Financial System is Prepared for Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (HI), introduced the Climate Change Financial Risk Act of 2019. 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."The climate crisis poses an existential threat to our way of life. Through more frequent and more intense storms, longer wildfire seasons, and so much more, many of … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Casten Questions EPA Official on Proposed Rule to Censor Science
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), today at a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing questioned Dr. Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Science Advisor and Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science for the Office of Research and Development, about the Trump Administration's proposed rule that would significantly limit the amount of science and medical research used in policymaking by requiring scientists to disclose … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Casten Urges NOAA to Disregard Political Pressure by the Administration When Reporting Natural Disasters
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), wrote a letter to Dr. Neil Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS) to continue to report accurate information during national disasters, following the Trump Administration's political interference that resulted in reports of false forecasting on Hurricane Dorian earlier … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Casten, New Democrat Coalition Statement on Trump’s Decision to Begin the Withdrawal Process from the Paris Climate Accord
WASHINGTON, DC - President Trump announced the United States will begin the withdrawal process from the Paris Climate Accord, leaving America as the only nation to abandon the global effort to combat climate change. New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Derek Kilmer and NDC Climate Change Task Force Co-Chairs Sean Casten (IL-06), Don Beyer (VA-08), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Susan Wild (PA-07) spoke out on the Administration's announcement that it would begin the legal process for withdrawal, and … Continue Reading
November 01, 2019
With Casten Support, World Relief DuPage/Aurora Awarded $997K to Help Local Refugee Resettlement Efforts
Glen Ellyn, IL. -U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced today that, with his support, World Relief DuPage/Aurora (WRDA) have been awarded grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The $996,940 award will be evenly divided between the next four fiscal years, FY2020-FY2023 to help local refugees build their future in the United States by providing access to financial literacy programs for purchasing houses or … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Casten on Resolution to Formalize Impeachment Inquiry into the President
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted on H.Res 660, a resolution to formalize the process of pursuing an impeachment inquiry into the President. The resolution provides the path forward for public hearings and provides rules for the format for open hearings in the House Intelligence Committee, including staff-led questioning of witnesses. It also authorizes the public release of deposition transcripts. In June, Casten came out in favor of opening an … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Casten Presses Secretary Mnuchin on Lifting Russian Sanctions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) at a House Financial Services Committee hearing questioned Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about his decision to lift sanctions against Russian company, Rusal, largely owned by Russian Oligarch Oleg Deripaska. In April 2018, The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Deripaska and Rusal as a part of targeted strategy against oligarchs believed to be close to Putin and were designed to punish him for subverting Western democracies. … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Casten SEC Disclosure Effectiveness Testing Act Passes House
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten's (IL-06) bill, H.R. 1815 the SEC Disclosure Effectiveness Testing Act passed the House. The bill would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure main street investors have the information they need to invest their savings. The bill would require the SEC to engage in usability testing of its new and existing disclosures intended for retail investors in the form of qualitative interviews and surveys. Today, Casten … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Casten Statement on the Passing of Chairman Elijah Cummings
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on the passing of House Committee on Oversight & Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings (MD-07): Casten said, "Elijah Cummings was a giant. He was a champion in the civil rights movement, a passionate fighter for justice, who used his powerful voice to lift up those who often felt powerless. We were fortunate to have him - he was a moral leader who united our Country in a time of division and Congress was … Continue Reading
October 16, 2019
Casten, Davis, and Spanberger Lead Bill to Protect Struggling Student Loan Borrowers
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Representatives Sean Casten, Danny K. Davis, and Abigail Spanberger championed legislation to protect student loan borrowers experiencing financial hardship by stopping an onerous practice known as capitalization after a deferment or forbearance. The End Capitalization for Struggling Borrowers Act is included in the Democratic College Affordability Act to lower the cost of college and reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Capitalization is an accounting rule which … Continue Reading
October 11, 2019
Representatives Casten, Lee Introduce Pell Grant Sustainability Act
Downers Grove, IL. - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Susie Lee (NV-03) introduced the Pell Grant Sustainability Act. The bill would make sure that Federal resources for college students keep up with current costs by indexing Pell Grants to inflation. From 2009 to 2018, the value of discretionary Pell Grants stayed flat while inflation rose 17% and college tuition went even higher. The maximum Pell Grant now covers the smallest share of college cost ever, just 28% compared … Continue Reading
October 04, 2019
Casten, Shalala, King Introduce the Stop College Closures Act of 2019
Downers Grove, IL - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Donna Shalala (FL-27), and Peter King (NY-02) introduced the Stop College Closures Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation that would require accrediting agencies for institutions of higher education do more to prevent and protect students from falling victim to sudden school closures."It is nothing short of devastating to students when their college closes. After pouring time and money into their education, they're left with a … Continue Reading
September 30, 2019
Casten Statement on Sterigenics Decision to Close
Downers Grove, IL - Today U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after Sterigenics announced they will close the Willowbrook facility:Casten said, "Illinoisans should have confidence that the air they are breathing is safe. Unfortunately, the actions of Sterigenics made it impossible for those who live and work in Willowbrook and the surrounding communities to have that peace of mind. For that reason, I support Sterigenics' decision to close their Willowbrook … Continue Reading
September 30, 2019
Representatives Casten, Tonko, Quigley Introduce the Preserve Science in Policymaking Act
Downers Grove, IL. - Last week, Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Mike Quigley (IL-05) introduced the Preserve Science in Policymaking Act of 2019. The bill would prevent the President from unilaterally dissolving Federal Advisory Committees - groups of scientists and academics that advise the executive branch on how to make their regulations evidence-based - without the approval of apolitical civil servants and a public notice and comment period. The bill comes in … Continue Reading
September 26, 2019
Representatives Casten, Haaland, Garcia, Krishnamoorthi Introduce Bill to Help College Students Finish Their Degrees
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) introduced H.R. 4502, the Giving Relief and Dollars to Undergraduates for Adequate Time for Education Act (GRADUATE Act). The bill would eliminate the restriction that students can only take out subsidized student loans over three years for an Associate's Degree or six years for a Bachelor's Degree, while maintaining the overall cap on borrowing to prevent … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Casten Doubles Down on Need for Impeachment Inquiry After Troubling Details About Trump’s Conversation with Ukrainian President Emerge
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after evidence emerges about President Trump's troublesome communications with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's announcement to pursue a formal impeachment inquiry into the President of the United States.Casten said, "In June, I called for an impeachment inquiry into the President of the United States. My determination that an inquiry is necessary has only … Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Casten, Booker, Gillibrand, and Kennedy Introduce Legislation Banning Inequitable Calculations of Civil Damages
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), along with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), as well as, U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III (MA-04), introduced legislation that prohibits the consideration of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or actual or perceived sexual orientation when calculating damages in civil lawsuits. The Fair Calculations in Civil Damages Act prevents courts from determining that the victim of a crime should be … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Casten Releases Statement on the Passing of Dr. Emily Clyburn
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement mourning the death of Dr. Emily Clyburn, wife of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC-06).Casten said, "I have learned a lot from Rep. Clyburn in my brief time as a Member of Congress, but probably the most important thing I have learned is the inestimable value of a solid partner - someone who puts their morals first, who makes quiet and generous personal sacrifices, who stands by you, but never … Continue Reading