Press Releases
Casten, Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider, Underwood Request Urgent Action from Governor, EPA in Response to Lake County Ethylene Oxide Results
WASHINGTON - Responding to today's release of preliminary results of ambient air monitoring of ethylene oxide in Lake County, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) sent letters requesting urgent action from Governor J.B. Pritzker and U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to protect the public health of area residents, and to assist the community in analyzing the … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Casten Supports Opening Impeachment Inquiry into the President of the United States
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) issued the following statement today regarding his support for opening an impeachment inquiry into the President of the United States.Casten said, "I didn't run for Congress to impeach the President - any President, I ran to fight climate change, push for commonsense gun reform, uphold women's right to choose, and strengthen our economy.But I also ran for office because I felt the people of my District deserved transparency from their … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Congressman Casten’s Priorities Featured In First Appropriations Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass H.R. 2740, a package of bills that would fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, and Energy throughout the next year.The bill includes several provisions championed by Congressman Casten aimed at protecting our environment, addressing climate change, ensuring access to quality health care, and promoting education for all citizens. Congressman Casten released the following … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Casten Statement on Trump Administration’s ‘Dirty Power Scam’ Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on the Trump Administration rollback of the Obama-era Clean Power Plan, a set of policies introduced in 2015 to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. Casten is a member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and a co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force.Casten said, "The Trump Administration's rollback of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) is a major setback to … Continue Reading
June 14, 2019
Casten Holds Panel Discussion on Rising Costs of Insulin Following Report on How the High Price is Hurting the 6th District
Wheaton, IL - Following a report on the high price of insulin and how it is impacting thousands of patients and their families in the 6th District of Illinois, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and local policy experts held a panel discussion focused on the increasing prices.Prescription drug costs continue to rise year after year and the effects of these astronomical costs are uniquely felt by the more than 30 million people in the United States who have diabetes. In the 6th District … Continue Reading
June 14, 2019
Casten Statement on Suspected Attacks on Oil Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz
Wheaton, IL - In response to reports of recent suspected attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), said that strong international alliances are essential to maintaining security in the region and called on the Administration to provide Congress with a full accounting of the facts associated with the incidents."These tanker incidents in the Gulf of Oman remind us of the fragile nature and high value of peace in that volatile region," Casten said. … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Casten Questions Illinois Attorney General Employee on Challenges Due to the Administration’s Sabotage of Student Borrowers
"We don't have a partner on the federal level in protecting students. In many ways we have an opponent."Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), today at a House Financial Services Committee hearing, questioned Illinois Attorney General Office's Student Loan Ombudsman and Supervising Attorney, Joe Sanders, on Secretary DeVos' continued sabotage of federal protections for student loan borrowers. Secretary DeVos has blocked the Department of Education from conducting its … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force Statement on Passage of Legislation to Address Ocean Acidification
Washington, DC - Today, the New Democrat Coalition Climate Change Task Force expressed support for the House passage of H.R. 1921 - the Ocean Acidification Innovation Act (Rep. Kilmer), H.R. 1237 - the COAST Research Act (Rep. Bonamici), and H.R. 1716 - the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act (Rep. Pingree). These pieces of legislation expand research and innovation to understand and address ocean acidification and coastal community vulnerabilities, which are driven in large part by … Continue Reading
June 04, 2019
Casten Helps House Pass Disaster Relief Package
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted on the Senate-passed bipartisan Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act. The package includes $19.1 billion for disaster relief, including funding dedicated to flood mitigation. The 6th District was recently affected by damaging floods and last week, Rep. Casten toured several of the areas. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. Casten … Continue Reading
May 25, 2019
Casten Visits Lake County Areas Affected by Local Floods
Lake County, IL -U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) joined Executive Director of Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Mike Warner and other local officials to tour three areas affected by the recent floods in the 6th District. Casten toured the Cary Floodplain Buyout Area, the Cuba Marsh Forest Preserve, and the Des Plaines River Watershed and discussed water quality improvement efforts.Casten said, "As someone who has spent his career fighting climate change, I understand the … Continue Reading
May 22, 2019
Casten, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Nation’s Energy Storage Capabilities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Promoting Grid Storage Act of 2019, 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, "Expanding access to clean energy through increases in grid-scale energy storage is fundamental to addressing climate change, … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Casten, Durbin, Duckworth, Lipinski, Foster, Schneider, Underwood Ask EPA To Inspect All Region 5 Facilities Using Ethylene Oxide
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and 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 immediately conduct inspections of all Region 5 facilities - including Medline Inc. in Waukegan, Illinois, and Vantage Specialty Chemicals Inc. in Gurnee, Illinois, which use ethylene oxide (EtO) for … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
House Democrats Pass Bill to Stabilize the Affordable Care Act
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass H.R. 986, the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act, to block the Trump Administration's dangerous October 2018 guidance that gives states the ability to weaken the Affordable Care Act's critical protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Casten said, "Today I was proud to join House Democrats in voting to protect and stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA). H.R. 986, the Protecting … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Casten Delivers Floor Speech on H.R. 9, Climate Action Now Act
Washington, D.C. – Following House passage of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) delivered a Floor speech highlighting the economic benefits of the Paris Climate Agreement and the necessity to reduce CO2. H.R.9 ensures the U.S. honors our commitments detailed in the Paris Agreement and lays the groundwork for further climate action. Casten, a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, helped introduce the bill earlier this year at a … Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Casten, Rose Bipartisan Resolution to Support Combatting Financial Exploitation of Seniors Passes House
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and John Rose (TN-06) won House passage today of H. Res. 328, their bill to support combatting the financial exploitation of seniors. Older Americans are increasingly targeted for financial scams and it is estimated that older Americans lose more than $36 billion every year to scams. Casten spoke on the Floor in support of the Resolution earlier today.Casten said, in part, "America's seniors have worked hard to raise families, pay … Continue Reading
April 24, 2019
Casten, Neguse, and Levin Lead Freshman Letter Urging Prioritization of Climate Issues in FY2020 Appropriations
Washington D.C.— Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Mike Levin (CA-49) are leading a letter from a majority of the freshman class calling on appropriators in Congress to prioritize funding for climate change research in FY20. All three were recently appointed to the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis."As you consider the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020) Appropriations bills, we urge you to provide robust funding for our nation's climate change research programs," reads … Continue Reading
April 22, 2019
Foster, Casten Lead Letter to FDA on Ethylene Oxide Alternatives
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) led a letter to the Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inquiring about the actions the FDA has taken, or plans to take, to examine and evaluate alternatives to ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization methods in the United States. The letter was signed by all 13 Democratic members of the Illinois congressional delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives. "Approximately 50 … Continue Reading
April 18, 2019
Casten Statement on Mueller Report
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russia's interference in the 2016 election was made public. Casten said, "It seems to be a hallmark of the Trump Administration to try to sell the American people an illusion. They do not want us to believe what we can see and hear for ourselves. Contrary to the Attorney General's representation, Special Counsel Mueller's report … Continue Reading
April 13, 2019
Casten Denounces President Trump for Using 9/11 Imagery for Political Attack
Downers Grove, IL - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) issued the following statement on President Trump's tweet using 9/11 footage for a political attack.Casten said, "The President of the United States has embarrassed us. He has purposely misrepresented Representative Omar's words, he has incited hatred, and he has appealed to the darkest elements of our society. Sadly, it is not the first time he has done so. And yet this crosses a line. All of us who have the privilege to hold … Continue Reading
April 12, 2019
Casten Highlights First 100 Days in Congress
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) marked 100 days since being sworn into the 116th Congress. In the first 100 days, Casten and his colleagues have advanced legislation to protect those with pre-existing conditions, strengthened background checks on guns, and reauthorized vital legislation to advance women's rights, including the Violence Against Women Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Since being sworn in, Casten has held five townhalls to hear directly from … Continue Reading