Press Releases
Sustainable Investment Caucus Hosts Press Conference Following Anti-ESG Financial Services Hearing
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, chaired by Reps. Sean Casten (D-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA), hosted a press conference following the House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled “Protecting Investor Interests: Examining Environmental and Social Policy in Financial Regulation”. During the press conference, members of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus and House Financial Services Committee underscored the … Continue Reading
July 06, 2023
Casten, Meng Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Menstrual Products
Washington, D.C. (July 6th, 2023) - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) introduced the Period PROUD (Providing Resources to Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2023 to expand accessibility to menstrual products for those with limited access. Menstrual products are often considered a luxury, with the cost averaging $20 per month and forcing many women to make difficult decisions such as choosing between sanitary pads or food. The Period PROUD … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Hosts Roundtable Discussion with IL State Treasurer, Maryland Comptroller, US SIF
Washington, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Juan Vargas (CA-52), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, hosted a roundtable discussion for Members of Congress featuring Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, and US SIF Managing Director Bryan McGannon. During the discussion, Members heard from Treasurer Frerichs, Comptroller Lierman, and Mr. McGannon about how they view Environmental, Social, and … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
Casten Introduces Bill to Require Chief Risk Officer at Big Banks in Wake of Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Chief Risk Officer Enforcement and Accountability Act, legislation to codify Federal Reserve rules requiring that large banks have a Chief Risk Officer and increase notification requirements and public transparency when the position is vacant. “It was a clear mistake for Silicon Valley Bank to be without a Chief Risk Officer during a critical nine-month period preceding its collapse, particularly for a bank … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
Casten Co-Sponsors Equality Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) proudly co-sponsored the Equality Act, comprehensive civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community in the areas of employment, education, credit, jury service, federal funding, housing, and public accommodations. “The United States Pledge of Allegiance ends with a promise of liberty and justice for all, but in far too many states, a person can be denied housing, education, or the … Continue Reading
June 18, 2023
Casten Statement on June 18th Shooting in Willowbrook, Illinois
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten released the following statement regarding the shooting in Willowbrook, Illinois on June 18th: “I’m heartbroken to see the news from Willowbrook this morning. We live in a tragic reality where you cannot go to school, go to the grocery store, go to your place of worship, or celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July or Juneteenth without fear of being shot. It is clear that change is needed – we cannot allow this to be … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
CASTEN, DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS DELEGATION AGAIN URGE CENSUS BUREAU TO CORRECT ILLINOIS UNDERCOUNT IN ITS ONGOING POPULATION ESTIMATES
Following up on their previous letter and meeting with Census Bureau Director, the lawmakers emphasized the repercussions of undercounting Illinoisans WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Sean Casten, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with the 14 Democratic members of the Illinois delegation, today sent a follow-up letter to U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos urging him to account for the estimated undercount of Illinoisans in the … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Casten Votes to Raise Debt Limit, Calls for Permitting Reform
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act, legislation that raises the debt limit until 2025. “I voted to raise the debt limit because the credit of the United States should never be questioned,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “Defaulting on our debt would be catastrophic for the global economy. Prices would soar. Interest rates would skyrocket. The average cost of a 30-year mortgage in Illinois would increase by … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Casten Statement on Lack of Transmission in Debt Ceiling Package
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the lack of meaningful electricity transmission measures in the Fiscal Responsibility Act: “The electricity transmission measures included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act are woefully inadequate. We do not need to waste taxpayer dollars to tell us what we already know—if we want to fully realize the economic, reliability, and environmental benefits of the Inflation … Continue Reading
May 25, 2023
Casten Votes Against H.R. 467, Calls for Comprehensive Legislation to Address the Opioid Crisis
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten released the following statement after voting against H.R. 467, the HALT Fentanyl Act: “In 2022, over 109,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses. There is no question that our nation faces an opioid epidemic, and we must take immediate steps to make sure those who suffer from addiction get the treatment and rehabilitation they need. When the House considers legislation that focuses on research, prevention, treatment, … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Reps. Casten, Wild, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Safe Interactions Act to Improve Interactions Between Law Enforcement and People with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) re-introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Safe Interactions Act alongside Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA-07) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) to improve interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities and mental health needs. This bill provides grant funding to create partnerships between non-profit disability organizations and law enforcement agencies to administer enhanced training programs … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Casten Introduces Bipartisan COVER Act to Boost Soil Health and Align Crop Insurance with Risk Mitigation Practices
Washington, D.C (Thursday, May 18th) - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program (COVER) Act with original co-sponsor Representative Mike Bost (IL-12). This bill will provide a $5/acre crop insurance discount to farmers who plant cover crops to incentivize this important soil health practice, building on the federal Pandemic … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
SEEC Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Co-Chairs Sean Casten and Mike Levin Statement on Biden Permitting Reform Priorities
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Clean Energy Deployment Task Force, Reps. Sean Casten (IL) and Mike Levin (CA) released the following statement regarding the Biden-Harris Administration’s recently announced priorities for permitting reform: “We are pleased the White House's vision on permitting reform matches many of our proposals in the draft of our Clean Electricity and Transmission Acceleration … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on Oversight ESG Hearing
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Juan Vargas (CA-52), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, released the following statement regarding the Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing entitled “ESG Part I: An Examination of Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices with Attorneys General”: “We are disappointed, but not surprised by Republicans' latest attack against free-market principles. … Continue Reading
May 01, 2023
Casten, Spanberger Introduce Legislation to Combat Use of Dangerous Gun Modifications
Washington, D.C. (Monday, May 1st) - Today, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) introduced legislation to combat the increased use and proliferation of dangerous gun conversion devices. The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act would help tackle the ongoing gun violence epidemic by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of ‘auto-sears’ - illegal gun modification devices that … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
SEEC Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Co-Chairs Sean Casten and Mike Levin release discussion draft of transmission permitting reform legislation
Washington D.C. – Today, the Co-Chairs of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Clean Energy Deployment Task Force, Reps. Sean Casten (IL) and Mike Levin (CA), released a discussion draft of the Clean Electricity and Transmission Acceleration (CETA) Act. This bill aims to be a holistic approach at addressing the bottlenecks that exist in deploying clean energy and electricity transmission at the speed necessary to address the climate crisis, while also ensuring … Continue Reading
April 18, 2023
Casten Questions Gensler on Financial Risks Posed by Climate Change to US Housing Market
Casten Questions Gensler on Financial Risks Posed by Climate Change to US Housing Market Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) questioned SEC Chairman Gary Gensler during a House Financial Services Committee hearing about the financial risk posed by climate change to the United States housing market. “There was a report from Nature Climate Change recently that said that real estate in the United States is estimated to be overvalued by $121 … Continue Reading
April 18, 2023
Casten Announces Selections for FY2024 Community Project Funding, Would Bring More Than $30 Million in Funding to Address Chicagoland Priorities
Downers Grove, IL (April 17th, 2023) – Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) today announced his Community Projects for Fiscal Year 2024, which could bring a total of$30,420,455 in federal funding to our Chicagoland community. The 15 projects requested by Rep. Casten will improve emergency services, build out EV charging stations, create safe recreation facilities for children experiencing homelessness, provide clean drinking water, fund job readiness programming for teens, and more. The … Continue Reading
April 17, 2023
Casten, Underwood Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Illinois Families Hurt by SALT Deduction Cap
WASHINGTON – Ahead of Tax Day, Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced legislation to provide tax relief to Illinois families unfairly harmed by changes to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. The Republican tax law enacted in 2017 disproportionately hurt northern Illinoisans by capping the SALT deduction at $10,000, which prevents taxpayers from deducting the full amount of their state and local taxes on their federal tax returns. SALT taxes … Continue Reading
March 31, 2023
Casten Named Vice Ranking Member of Science, Space, and Technology Committee
(Washington, DC) —This week, the Minority of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology moved to confirm Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) as Vice Ranking Member of the Committee. “The Science, Space, and Technology Committee is leading the way on American innovation, research, and scientific achievement,” said Vice Ranking Member Sean Casten. "I’m honored to be named Vice Ranking Member of this committee and look forward to working with Ranking Member … Continue Reading