Press Releases
SEEC Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Sean Casten and Mike Levin Celebrate Historic Action for Clean Energy Development on Public Lands
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-06) and Mike Levin (CA-49), released the following statement in response to the finalization of the Renewable Energy Rule from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which will spur the responsible development of clean energy on America’s public lands. “Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a historic milestone in ensuring … Continue Reading
April 10, 2024
Casten: The SEC is Acting in the Interest of Investors
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, co-chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, hosted a press conference to highlight the importance of protecting free-market principles of consumer choice and investor freedom. “The SEC is acting in the interest of investors, acting entirely within their mandate, to deal with the fact that investors in America tend to not like risk,” said Rep. Casten. “They like to invest in portfolios that maximize the return with the … Continue Reading
April 08, 2024
Casten, Warren, Escobar, 23 Lawmakers Urge Biden Administration to Finalize Climate Risk Disclosure Rule for Federal Contractors
Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-Ill.), co-chair of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) led their colleagues in a letter to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council, composed of the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), urging them to finalize the Federal … Continue Reading
April 05, 2024
Sustainable Investment Caucus Statement on SEC Climate Disclosure Rule Pause
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Juan Vargas (CA-52) and Sean Casten (IL-06), co-chairs of the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus, released the following statement on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) announcement that it will pause the implementation of its new climate disclosure rule pending the results of a legal challenge: “It’s no secret that corporations believe climate change poses a risk to their businesses - that’s why they spend on average $500,000 a … Continue Reading
April 01, 2024
Casten, 19 Colleagues Renew Call to Boost Soil Health and Align Crop Insurance with Risk Mitigation Practices
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) led 19 of his colleagues in a letter to House Agriculture Committee Leadership urging them to include a voluntary crop insurance premium incentive program for farmers who plant cover crops in the upcoming Farm Bill. “The Farm Bill provides an opportunity to align crop insurance with risk-reducing soil health practices,” the lawmakers wrote. “The Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) is widely used to stabilize farm incomes, … Continue Reading
March 21, 2024
SEEC Clean Energy Deployment Task Force Co-Chairs Sean Casten and Mike Levin Highlight Democrats’ Clean Energy Vision During Republicans’ Dirty Energy Week
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 to highlight a real vision for an American clean energy future during House Republicans’ Dirty Energy Week. “This week, House Republicans doubled down on their goal of increasing emissions and costs for American families all while turning a blind eye to energy reliability. The … Continue Reading
March 18, 2024
Casten, Raskin Urge DOJ, FBI, DHS to Address White Supremacy in Policing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressmen Sean Casten (IL-06) and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) led 28 colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas urging their respective agencies to fully and robustly implement President Biden’s May 2022 Executive Order to combat white supremacy in federal policing. “The Department of Justice must act expeditiously to fully implement EO 14074 among federal law enforcement, … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Casten Statement on HR 7521
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: “Foreign interference and disinformation campaigns remain two of the gravest threats to American democracy. Ensuring our adversaries abroad don’t have unfettered access to Americans’ data is critical to preventing foreign influence operations from distorting and misleading the American … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Casten Introduces Bill to Mitigate Methane Emissions
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06), along with co-sponsors Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) introduced the Methane Emissions Mitigation Research and Development Act to create a program for methane emissions detection and mitigation research, as well as development and demonstration for technologies and methods that would detect and mitigate emissions. Methane is one of the leading … Continue Reading
March 06, 2024
Sustainable Investment Caucus Applauds SEC Climate Rule
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 SEC’s finalized rulemaking requiring companies to disclose climate-related financial risks: “The climate rule approved by the SEC today ensures investors have access to clear, comparable, and standardized disclosures to judge registrants’ climate risks. Climate change remains a threat to the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2024
Casten Secures $11,427,646 For Local Projects in Illinois’ 6th District
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) voted to pass $11,427,646 in Community Project Funding that he previously secured for Illinois’s 6th District in the 2024 government funding. This funding, included in the first of the appropriations government funding packages, responds directly to some of the most pressing needs in the 6th District. The legislation is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by President Biden later this week. “After an extremely … Continue Reading
March 05, 2024
Casten To Bring Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center As State of the Union Guest
March 5th, 2024 - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center, will be his State of the Union 2024 guest. Steinmetz is the Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center, a nonprofit organization in Chicagoland focused on providing free programs during after-school and unsupervised hours where students can develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe environment. Their vision is to … Continue Reading
March 01, 2024
Casten co-sponsors bill to protect access to in vitro fertilization
March 1st, 2024 - U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) has cosponsored H.R. 7056, the Access to Family Building Act, which would establish a federal right to access assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). This legislation would pre-empt state efforts to limit access and ensure that no parents or doctors are punished for trying to start a family. Earlier this month, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring that frozen embryos created through IVF are … Continue Reading
February 29, 2024
Casten Statement on Trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (IL-06), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Mark Takano (CA-39), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Becca Balint (VT-AL) released a statement on their recent trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories and outlining changes for future U.S. policy: “What happened in Israel on October 7th was horrifying. On our recent trip to Israel, we saw firsthand the remnants of the violence that innocent people were subjected to on that dark … Continue Reading
February 26, 2024
Casten, Duckworth, Durbin Announce $100 Million to Modernize Metra Railcars and Improve Accessibility
Monday, February 26th 2024 - U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Metra is expected to receive $100,000,000 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FY24 Rail Vehicle Replacement Program for Metra’s Modern Railcars Project. This funding will support Metra in purchasing 50 modern, ADA-accessible, multilevel railcars to replace rail cars that have serviced Illinoisians for over 40 years. The new cars … Continue Reading
February 13, 2024
Casten Announces EPA Approval of Over $2.6 Million in Funding for Upgrades at Wheaton Sanitary District
Washington, D.C. (February 13th, 2024) - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that the Wheaton Sanitary District will receive $2,655,400 in federal funding to begin construction on wastewater treatment improvements. This funding from the Environmental Protection Agency was originally approved as one of Casten’s FY2023 community funding projects. These funds will go towards secondary clarifier upgrades, which include the installation of new mixed liquor piping, a new splitter … Continue Reading
February 12, 2024
Casten Thanks Veterans with Valentines at Oak Lawn VA Clinic
February 12th, 2024 - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) delivered valentines to veterans at the Oak Lawn VA Clinic. Casten’s office has collected valentines from constituents in the district throughout the month of February to show gratitude to veterans for their service. Rep. Casten’s office collected over 100 valentines for veterans last year and has collected over 400 this year. “I’m honored to collect these cards for our veterans and thank them for their service and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Casten Statement on Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten has released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7217, legislation to provide supplemental appropriations to respond to the attacks in Israel: “The United States has a duty to provide aid to our allies in their times of need. That includes Israel, and I stand ready to support serious efforts to assist Israel in its absolute right to defend itself. This legislation is not that. Hamas gains power in the region in part because they … Continue Reading
February 01, 2024
Casten Celebrates Expanded Access to High Speed Internet in the 6th District
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, February 1st) - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) announced that 20,000 households in Illinois’ 6th District have access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet thanks to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Broadband costs in the 6th District have been reduced by roughly $8.5 million annually and 92.7% of households in the district live in an area where an internet service provider is offering a no-cost plan to ACP participants. “High-speed … Continue Reading
February 01, 2024
Casten, Whitehouse, Vargas lead 62 Colleagues in letter to Appropriations Leadership Opposing Anti-Sustainable Investing Riders
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52) led 62 of their colleagues in a letter to the House and Senate appropriations leadership opposing several anti-ESG riders spread across the FY 2024 appropriations bills. “These appropriations riders follow a dangerous trend of political interference with investing choices at the state level that are antithetical to the free-market system that has made US … Continue Reading