Sean Casten

Supports job creation and economic opportunity for all people, while responsibly reducing the deficit.

“He is fighting for job creation, economic opportunity for all, and fair and responsible ways to reduce the deficit.”⁷

Believes a strong economy starts with strong unions and good-paying jobs.

“Rep. Casten believes that a strong economy starts with strong unions and good-paying jobs.”⁷

Supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital formation through bipartisan legislation.

“Passed bipartisan legislation that supports innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital formation.”⁷

Supports using infrastructure funding to repair roads, improve transit, and increase clean water access.

“Secured $9 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address needs throughout Illinois. This funding will be used to repair roads and bridges, improve public transit, and increase access to clean water.”⁷

Supports creating jobs, lowering costs, and bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States.

“Fought to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, which creates jobs, lowers costs, and brings manufacturing jobs back to the United States.”⁷

Recognizes the threat of climate change on global financial markets.

“Rep. Casten recognizes the threat of climate change on global financial markets.”⁷

Supports safeguarding the economy from financial risks posed by the climate crisis.

“introduced the Climate Risk Disclosure Act and the Addressing Climate Financial Risk Act to safeguard our economy from the financial risks posed by the climate crisis.”⁷

Supports sustainable investing and providing investor protections and transparency.

“created the Congressional Sustainable Investment Caucus to bring together Members of Congress with experts to better understand sustainable investing and inform policymaking that provides investor protections and transparency of information to market participants.”⁷

Supports legislation to ensure investors have information about climate-related risks.

“Worked to ensure that investors have the information they need to make sound investments, including by passing legislation through the House to require all public companies to disclose information on climate-related risks and by introducing legislation to improve transparency at companies that provide investors with unequal voting rights.”⁸

Supports legislation to support entrepreneurship and capital formation.

“Passed legislation unanimously through the House to support entrepreneurship and capital formation, ensuring that vital funding reaches local and regional economies.”⁸

Supports policies to prevent risk management failures in the financial system.

“Proposed policy reforms to make our financial system stronger, safer, and more resilient, including by introducing legislation to prevent the risk management failures that contributed to the 2023 bank failures.”⁸

Supports sustainable investing and opposes anti-free market attacks.

“Founded and co-chairs the Sustainable Investment Caucus, which brings together Members of Congress with experts to better understand sustainable investing, inform policymaking that enhances investor protections, and respond to anti-free market attacks on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing.”⁸

Supports the financial sector's ability to consider ESG factors.

“Championed policies to ensure the financial sector can freely allocate capital and consider ESG factors when making important investment decisions.”⁸

Criticizes attacks on U.S. economic data and raises alarm about declining trust.

“Led his colleagues in criticizing politically-motivated attacks on government statistics and raising alarm about declining trust in U.S. economic data.”⁸

Believes the Financial Services Committee should protect consumers and investors.

“Rep. Casten believes the Financial Services Committee has a primary mission and focus to protect consumers and investors.”⁸

Supports legislation to protect seniors from crypto ATM scams.

“Introducing legislation to protect seniors and vulnerable Americans from crypto ATM scams.”⁸

Supports disrupting transnational scam networks and targeting foreign fraudsters.

“Advocating for policies to disrupt transnational scam networks and target foreign fraudsters who steal billions from Americans every year.”⁸

Supports defending the CFPB's ability to protect consumers.

“Fighting to defend the CFPB, to preserve its ability to protect Americans from deceptive and abusive financial practices, to protect consumer complaint data, and to hold corporations accountable for their misconduct.”⁸

Supports action to protect investors from insider trading and fraudulent schemes.

“Demanding that federal regulators take more aggressive action to protect investors from insider trading and fraudulent schemes that are increasingly prevalent in emerging markets.”⁸

Supports funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and MDIs.

“Ensuring robust funding for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), supporting wealth creation for minority households and facilitating access to capital for underserved communities.”⁸

Supports ending abuse of federal payment systems and protecting financial data.

“Introducing the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which would end the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s abuse of our federal payment systems and Americans’ sensitive financial data and stop it from happening again.”⁸

Supports investigating potential violations of bribery laws and the emoluments clause.

“Leading efforts to investigate President Trump’s exclusive dinner for top investors in his memecoin and apparent violations of federal bribery laws and the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution.”⁸

Supports investigating financial ties to the President’s crypto ventures.

“Launching probes into individuals and companies that have tried to buy their way out of accountability, including dismissed lawsuits for fraudsters and pardons for convicted money launderers that have deep financial ties to the President’s crypto ventures.”⁸

Supports transparency regarding dealings with Venezuelan oil, gold, and minerals.

“Shedding light on the Trump Administration’s illegal dealings with Venezuelan oil, gold, and critical minerals, demanding transparency for the American people.”⁸

Supports equal pay for equal work and addressing the gender pay gap.

“Rep. Casten is also working to address inequality, like the gender pay gap. For every dollar a man makes, a woman makes 80 cents, and the wage gap is even larger for women of color.”⁹

Supports legislation to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work.

“Rep. Casten is proud to be a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.”⁹

Introduced legislation to increase the amount educators can deduct on qualified expenses.

“After hearing from teachers who struggled to afford needed classroom supplies, Rep. Casten introduced the bipartisan Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act to increase the amount educators are able to deduct on qualified out-of-pocket expenses on their annual tax return from $250 to $1000.”¹⁵

Supports expanding access to menstrual products.

“Rep. Casten and Congresswoman Grace Meng introduced the Period PROUD Act, which expands accessibility to menstrual products for those with limited access.”⁹

Supports protecting the right to contraception.

“As extreme GOP attacks on contraception are already taking place across the nation, Rep. Casten is proud to stand with 9 in 10 Americans and support the bipartisan Right to Contraception Act.”⁹

Opposes the Hyde Amendment, a policy prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortion care.

“While the extreme GOP consistently pushes to codify the racist, classist Hyde Amendment, House Democrats successfully kept it out of the House-passed spending bills multiple years running in previous Congresses.”⁹

Supports expanding access to the full spectrum of reproductive care.

“Rep. Casten is proud to support the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act to expand access to the full spectrum of reproductive care, including abortion care, and eliminate barriers for individuals with disabilities.”⁹

Supports protecting personal reproductive health data.

“Rep. Casten is proud to support the My Body, My Data Act to create a new national standard for protecting the privacy of personal reproductive and sexual health information.”⁹

Wants Congress to enshrine the right to an abortion into law.

“Rep. Casten believes it is critical that Congress take immediate action to enshrine the right to an abortion into law.”⁹

Supports investing in climate action to create jobs and improve the planet.

“He combines his experience running clean energy companies with his background as a scientist to better our planet and create jobs at the same time.”³⁸

Wants to serve as a blueprint for climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act.

“Rep. Casten was honored to serve on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, where he was integral in developing a report that served as the blueprint for the Inflation Reduction Act – the largest investment in climate action in American history.”³⁸

Wants to ensure Americans have access to renewable energy through energy policy.

“Rep. Casten is the main sponsor of the Energy Bills Relief Act, a family- and consumer-focused approach to United States energy policy that ensures Americans have access to the most reliable and low-cost source of power available – renewable energy.”³⁸

Supports removing legal barriers to promote a less carbon-intensive economy.

“Congressman Casten is committed to pursuing targeted reforms that can promote a less carbon-intensive economy by removing existing legal barriers.”³⁸

Supports the Clean Industrial Technologies Act and Better Energy Storage Technology Act.

“The bipartisan Clean Industrial Technologies Act and Better Energy Storage Technology Act, both of which have been signed into law.”³⁸

Opposes tax breaks for the oil and gas industry.

“The End Oil and Gas Subsidies Act, which eliminates nearly a dozen of the most egregious tax breaks enjoyed by the oil and gas industry.”³⁸

Wants to ensure the electrical grid is prepared for electric vehicle chargers.

“The EV Grid Act, which ensures our electrical grid is prepared for the influx of EV chargers necessary to combat climate change.”³⁸

Supports rewarding purchases of energy-efficient vehicles, especially electric vehicles.

“The Vehicle Energy Performance Act, which rewards purchases of the most energy-efficient vehicles, especially electric vehicles.”³⁸

Supports labeling apparel with information on its carbon footprint.

“The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act, under which apparel manufacturers and retailers may voluntarily place label on an item of apparel with EPA-verified information relating to the carbon footprint of that item, revolutionizing the way consumers learn about the environmental impact of the clothes they purchase.”³⁸

Supports labeling food with information on its environmental impact.

“The Voluntary Food Climate Labeling Act, much like the above apparel labeling bill, empowers consumers with EPA-verified information on the environmental impact of their food choices.”³⁸

Wants the Secretary of Energy to examine impacts when considering LNG export permits.

“The LNG Public Interest Determination Act, requires the Secretary of Energy to examine impacts on climate stability, consumer energy costs, and environmental justice communities when considering permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.”³⁸

Presses regulators to address threats that climate change poses to the global economy.

“Pressed regulators, financial institutions, the housing industry, and the insurance sector to address the serious threats that climate change poses to the global economy.”⁸

Supports policies to strengthen flood mitigation and address climate-related financial risks.

“Introduced and advanced policies that aim to strengthen flood mitigation and support communities facing repeated losses, measure whether large banks are adequately prepared to respond to climate-related shocks, and ensure our regulators have the tools and institutional capacity needed to respond to climate-related financial stability risks.”⁸

Believes every child should have access to a top-notch, affordable education, regardless of zip code or economic status.

“Representative Casten's desire to learn helped pave his way to Congress, and he believes that, regardless of zip code or economic status, every child should have access to a top-notch, affordable education.”¹⁵

Wants an educational system that prepares students to compete in a global economy and avoids crippling debt.

“America must strive for an educational system that prepares our students to compete in an ever-advancing global economy, and that does not leave students grappling with crippling debt.”¹⁵

Supports expanding early childhood education to give kids a solid start early in life.

“Rep. Casten supports the expansion of early childhood education, recognizing the difference it makes to give our kids a solid start early in life.”¹⁵

Believes in expanding STEM education to ensure American competitiveness for generations to come.

“Rep. Casten also believes in expanding STEM education to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future to help ensure American competitiveness for generations to come.”¹⁵

Introduced legislation to index the Pell Grant to inflation to help students access college resources.

“Rep. Casten has introduced the Pell Grant Sustainability Act with Rep. Susie Lee to help students access the resources they need to attend college by indexing the Pell Grant to inflation.”¹⁵

Introduced legislation to expand the FMLA to cover education support professionals.

“Rep. Casten has also introduced the ESP and School Support Staff Family Leave Act to help expand the FMLA and ensure it covers the 2.7 million education support professionals (ESPs) who are currently blocked from accessing FMLA benefits.”¹⁵

Supports improving data collection of hate crimes, including those motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity.

“The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act provides for grants to improve data collection of hate crimes -- including hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity -- and for grants for states to create hotlines to assist victims of hate crimes, among other provisions.”⁴⁸

Supports addressing gaps in current law to save the lives of women and their families.

“Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, which has been vital to saving the lives of women and their families since its inception.”⁹

Supports training campus faculty in recognizing and responding to domestic or sexual abuse.

“Rep. Casten also passed his amendment to the bill to include campus faculty in grant programs so they can be trained in recognizing and responding to domestic or sexual abuse.”⁹

Opposes the Global Gag Rule, a policy restricting U.S. global health funding.

“The Global Gag Rule—also known as the Mexico City Policy—has been in effect intermittently for decades, largely under Republican administrations.”⁹

Opposes the Helms Amendment, which bars U.S. global health assistance from funding abortion care.

“The Helms Amendment continues to bar all U.S. global health assistance from funding abortion care, even in countries where that care is legal.”⁹

Secured funding to address affordable housing needs of LGBTQIA+ youth.

“Rep. Casten secured $3,000,000 in funding for a local non-profit to address the increased mental health and affordable housing needs of LGBTQIA+ youth in Chicagoland.”⁴⁸

Supports restoring accountability to housing assistance programs.

“Supporting efforts to restore accountability and certainty to lifeline housing assistance programs, including by demanding that administration officials answer directly for their actions that put seniors, veterans, and domestic abuse survivors at risk of homelessness.”⁸

Supports protecting the rights of all Americans, believing LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights.

“He is committed to his long-held belief that LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights and he stands firmly against any effort that would deny any citizen the full set of rights and opportunities.”⁴⁸

Wants to eliminate gaps in civil rights laws to provide full protections for LGBTQIA+ Americans.

“Believing that too many gaps exist in our civil rights laws, leaving LGBTQIA+ Americans without the full protections that other citizens enjoy, Rep. Casten seeks to do all that he can in office to eliminate those gaps.”⁴⁸

Supports affirming women’s equality in the U.S. Constitution.

“He’s also a co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment, which affirms women’s equality in the US Constitution.”⁹

Supports ensuring service members receive resources and care, both at home and abroad.

“Rep. Casten is committed to ensuring that the men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the U.S. military get the resources and care they need – both at home and abroad.”⁷⁸

Supports programs that enable service members to transition back into civilian life.

“In Congress, he is committed to supporting programs that better enable our service members to transition back into civilian life, have access to both mental and physical health care, and provide resources for our military families while their husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters are deployed.”⁷⁸

Supports the Honoring our PACT Act, addressing healthcare and other matters for veterans.

“Rep. Casten was proud to co-sponsor the Honoring our PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden, which addresses health care, presumption of service-connection, research, resources, and other matters related to veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service.”⁷⁸

Supports improving access to mental health facilities for veterans.

“Additionally, he’s a co-sponsor of the Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act which improves access to mental health facilities for veterans.”⁷⁸

Provides constituent services related to veterans affairs, including claims and records.

“He’s helped obtain the status of VA claims for service-related disabilities and worked to retrieve service records and missing awards and medals for veterans.”⁷⁸