Biography
Sean Casten, born on November 23, 1971, in Dublin, Ireland, is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for Illinois' 6th Congressional District since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the first Democrat to represent this district in nearly 50 years. Casten has dedicated his career to combating climate change, leveraging his background as a scientist and clean energy entrepreneur to advocate for sustainable energy policies.
Education
-
Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Middlebury College
-
Master of Science in Biochemical Engineering from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College
-
Master of Engineering Management from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College
During his graduate studies, Casten conducted research on thermophilic fermentation technology for producing cellulosic ethanol and analyzed integrated ethanol, heat, and power plants.
Political Experience
-
U.S. Representative for Illinois' 6th Congressional District
- Elected in 2018, defeating six-term Republican incumbent Peter Roskam.
- Re-elected in 2020 and 2022.
-
Committee Assignments:
-
House Financial Services Committee: Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets.
-
Science, Space, and Technology Committee: Vice Ranking Member.
-
Caucus Memberships:
-
New Democrat Coalition: Vice-Chair of the Climate Change Task Force.
-
Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition: Vice-Chair.
-
Congressional Freethought Caucus: Member.
-
House Pro-Choice Caucus: Member.
-
Sustainable Investment Caucus: Co-Chair.
Notable Achievements
-
Climate and Energy Legislation:
- Introduced the Climate Risk Disclosure Act and the End Oil and Gas Subsidies Act to promote transparency and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
- Advocated for increased resources for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to facilitate the clean energy transition.
-
Education Initiatives:
- Introduced the Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act to increase tax deductions for educators' out-of-pocket expenses.
- Co-sponsored the Pell Grant Sustainability Act to index Pell Grants to inflation, ensuring they keep pace with rising college costs.
-
Community Engagement:
- Held over 70 town halls and more than 400 community events to maintain close contact with constituents.
Casten's tenure reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability, education reform, and active constituent engagement.
