Press Releases
Casten Statement on Government Funding
Washington, D.C. (September 19th, 2025) - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding government funding for FY2026: “I'm eager to support a government funding bill that improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of the American people. First and foremost, that means we must extend benefits available under the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire soon. This is what House Democrats proposed, but House Republicans refused. Thanks to Speaker … Continue Reading
September 18, 2025
Casten, Welch, Hickenlooper Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Invest in Local Communities, Strengthen Transmission Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced the Energizing Our Communities Act, legislation to support local communities that host Department of Energy (DOE)-supported transmission projects. The program will help build trust between local governments and transmission developers so our nation can sustainably increase transmission capacity, which is crucial to a national clean energy … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Casten Leads IL Democratic Delegation in Support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led all Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding, which is foundational to EPA regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the Endangerment Finding and what that will mean for … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Casten, Merkley Demand SEC Oversight of CCP-Linked Billionaire Who Invested $75M Into Trump's WLF
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) demanding it conduct full oversight of Justin Sun’s cryptocurrency company and his multi-million dollar investments into President Donald Trump’s digital assets projects, which raise serious investor protection and national security concerns. Sun is an entrepreneur with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who is also the largest … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Casten, Huffman Urge EPA to Halt Operations and Approvals for CCS to Address Systemic Issues
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging EPA to stop approvals and operations for carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities until ongoing systemic problems have been addressed. Recent events regarding CCS, including substantial well failures at the Archer Daniels Midland injection well facility in Decatur, … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Casten Statement on Voting Against the NDAA for FY 2026
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026: “Since the start of the second Trump Administration, we have seen the president use the United States military in American cities for domestic law enforcement. He has taken unilateral military action - such as launching military strikes abroad and in the Caribbean - without the consent of Congress. He has fired qualified, … Continue Reading
September 09, 2025
Casten, Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Education Support Professionals Access FMLA Benefits
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the ESP, Paraprofessional, and Education Support Staff Family Leave Act, bipartisan legislation to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) who are currently blocked from accessing FMLA benefits. The FMLA guarantees a segment of the workforce the ability to take unpaid leave to care for their newborns and sick loved ones … Continue Reading
September 08, 2025
Casten’s Bipartisan Pilot Mental Health Bill Passes House
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Sean Casten’s bipartisan Mental Health in Aviation Act, legislation that would expand access to mental health care for pilots and air traffic controllers. Rep. Casten introduced the legislation in April 2025 with Republican Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08). “Aviators should not be unfairly penalized for seeking mental health care. The current system perpetuates a culture of silence, and it’s past time that … Continue Reading
September 08, 2025
Casten Offers NDAA Amendment to Address Gaza Humanitarian Crisis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that would prohibit funds from being sent to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private organization at the center of the starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The amendment also directs the State Department to ensure humanitarian assistance for Gaza is coordinated through established international organizations. GHF is a private group … Continue Reading
September 04, 2025
Casten Statement on Trump’s Plan to Deploy Troops to Chicago
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement on President Trump’s plan to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago: “Addressing crime and keeping the American people safe is one of the most important responsibilities of the federal government. But the president’s plan to deploy National Guard troops into Chicago isn’t about that. It’s about intimidating the people of Illinois, getting Americans used to the sight of soldiers with guns patrolling our … Continue Reading
August 26, 2025
Casten Statement on Trump’s Attempted Firing of Fed Governor
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s attempted firing of Lisa Cook from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve: “The stability of the US financial system is reliant on our regulators being able to operate without fear of partisan politics. The president's attempted removal of a Federal Reserve governor is unprecedented. It will rattle … Continue Reading
August 12, 2025
Casten, 104 House Democrats Demand EPA Reinstate Suspended Employees
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 104 House Democrats in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin demanding the EPA immediately reinstate employees who were unfairly placed on administrative leave for signing a letter urging the Trump Administration to prioritize public health and the environment. In June 2025, over 270 EPA employees wrote a letter to Administrator Zeldin criticizing the Trump Administration’s efforts to politicize … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Casten Statement on Netanyahu’s Plan to Occupy Gaza
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza: “I strongly oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza. This would only deepen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis within the Gaza Strip and recklessly endanger the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. A full military occupation is not a strategy for peace or security—it is a path to … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Casten: Kristi Noem Is Not Welcome In IL-06
Downers Grove, IL — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s visit to Illinois’ 6th Congressional District: "Kristi Noem's racism and xenophobia have no place in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District. Her failures at the Department of Homeland Security harm American families and will have lasting, negative ripple effects on the American economy. The only reason she has her job is because she is so doggone … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
Casten, 92 House Democrats Demand Oversight Into Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 92 House Democrats in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation into the ownership structure and operation of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A copy of the letter can be found here. GHF is a U.S.-linked aid organization with no prior experience in humanitarian aid and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Casten, Schrier Urge Insurers to Maintain Vaccine Coverage
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06) and Kim Schrier, MD(WA-08) led 77 House Democrats in a letter to top health insurance companies urging them to continue to provide coverage for vaccines currently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). In June 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 members of ACIP. This was alarming, given Secretary Kennedy’s longstanding history of vaccine skepticism and cozy … Continue Reading
July 22, 2025
Casten Bill to Support Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Passes Financial Services Committee
Washington, D.C. — The House Committee on Financial Services voted to approve the Developing and Empowering our Aspiring Leaders (DEAL) Act, bipartisan legislation led by Democratic Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) and Republican Congresswoman Ann Wagner (MO-02) that would support innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital formation. “The DEAL Act increases capital flows to smaller venture capital funds by providing greater flexibility to fund managers, while still ensuring that investors are … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Casten, 16 House Democrats FOIA Request EPA for Info on Employee Firings, Rollbacks
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 16 House Democrats in submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for details of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s efforts to slow-walk the promulgation and enforcement of public health standards. “At your January 16 confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, you pledged to be ‘transparent and accountable to Congress and the public,’” the lawmakers wrote. … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Casten Introduces Bill to Combat Illicit Activity in DeFi
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) introduced the Compliant Operations of Decentralized Entities (CODE) Act of 2025, legislation to combat illicit activity and address cybersecurity concerns associated with decentralized finance (DeFi). “We cannot ignore the illicit activity currently ongoing within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, like North Korean hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in DeFi systems to steal cryptocurrency and fund their nuclear weapons program,” … Continue Reading
July 03, 2025
Casten Statement on Republican Budget Betrayal
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released the following statement regarding the Republican budget betrayal: “This bill forces us to borrow $5 trillion to pay for a tax cut for billionaires. It will make seniors who depend on Meals on Wheels and children who get free lunch at school go hungry. It will shut down nursing homes and hospitals because of cuts to the Medicaid system. It strips over 17 million Americans of their health insurance. It raises energy … Continue Reading