Press Releases
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
April 10, 2019
Casten Welcomes World War II and Korean War Veterans on Chicago Honor Flight
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) welcomed Chicago-area World War II and Korean War veterans at the World War II Memorial. About 96 veterans traveled to Washington D.C. through the Chicago Honor Flight network. The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created to honor America's veterans for their service.Rep. Casten greets veterans on the Chicago Honor Flight at the World War II Memorial. For high resolution photos click … Continue Reading
April 09, 2019
Casten Statement: Fighting for Free Tax Filing Services
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) issued the following statement on standing with taxpayers and fighting for free tax filing services. Casten came to Washington to be an independent voice in Congress.Casten said, "This afternoon, the House passed H.R. 1957, the Taxpayer First Act passed by voice vote which means that no member went on the record to vote yes or no. Had this bill called for a recorded vote, I would have voted no. In the main, it is a good a bill and one … Continue Reading
April 04, 2019
Casten Amendment Passes House, Included in Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced an amendment last night, which was unanimously adopted in H.R. 1585, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, that would ensure campus faculty are trained to recognize victims of sexual or domestic violence. This legislation amends the bill to include "appropriate campus faculty, such as academic advisors or professionals who deal with students on a daily basis,'' for grant training programs to recognize and respond … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Casten Urges Congress to Revive Office of Technology Assessment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), member of the House Financial Services Committee, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations to fund and restore the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), a Capitol Hill technology agency that was defunded more than 20 years ago. Funding OTA would provide Congressional Members and Committees with an objective analysis of emerging technology.A video of Congressman Casten's testimony can be found here.Congressman … Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Casten, Underwood Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Illinois Families Hurt by SALT Deduction Changes
WASHINGTON -U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) today announced the introduction of new legislation, H.R. 1757, that would provide tax relief to Illinois families unfairly harmed by a new tax burden included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Republican tax law enacted in 2017 disproportionately hurts Illinoisans in the 14th and 6th Congressional Districts by imposing a new cap of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000, whether they file … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Casten Joins Chair Castor in Introducing the Climate Action Now Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, continued his fight for climate change by joining Chair of the Select Committee, Kathy Castor (FL-14), in introducing H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. The legislation demands action on the climate crisis by ensuring America honors its Paris Agreement commitments and laying the groundwork for further action. Casten also serves as a Co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition Climate … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Rep. Casten Co-Sponsors The Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) cosponsored sweeping new health care legislation that will lower Illinoisan's health insurance premiums, crack down on junk health insurance plans, strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and reverse the Administration's health care sabotage. The Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care Affordable Act was introduced the day after the Trump Administration asked a federal court to strike down not only … Continue Reading
March 25, 2019
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