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Sean Casten's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (IL) - District 6

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Sean Casten is currently being tested through the 2024 Political Courage Test.

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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "We cannot let an arcane Senate procedure stand in the way of abortion rights. I led 112 of my colleagues in calling on the Senate to abolish the filibuster & pass the Women's Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe and ensure every woman’s right to reproductive freedom." (x.com)
  • "The Senate’s failure to enshrine the protections of Roe into law is inexcusable. Make no mistake: Our fight to protect Americans’ right to abortion care has only just begun. We will fight this with everything we’ve got, for as long as it takes." (x.com)
  • "Today is the 50th anniversary of #RoeVWade, the landmark ruling that gave Americans the constitutional right to abortion. Roe is gone now, but I remain committed to building a future that allows all people to control their own bodies, lives, and futures." (x.com)
  • "When SCOTUS’ draft decision leaked, I led my colleagues in demanding the Senate #EndTheFilibuster to protect abortion rights before Roe was overturned. President Biden is now with us in this fight. Every Senator who fails to act will be remembered for letting women die" (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by Alliance for Retired Americans (None)
  • "Cosponsored the Social Security 2100 Act which strengthens benefits for current and future generations." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "The 115,744 residents in the 6th District who receive Social Security know that we can’t afford to cut benefits. That’s why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act, which increases benefits & ensures Social Security will be there for generations." (x.com)
  • Rated 100% by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (None)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? "Yes" (None)
  • "I joined @paschutz on @WTTW to discuss how we can best stimulate the economy, keep kids out of poverty, and ensure that corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "The ONLY people who will see a tax increase as a result of the #BuildBackBetterAct are wealthy individuals who make over $400k and big corporations that haven't paid their fair share. Today, we passed the largest investment in climate action in American history–and one that will lower costs for consumers, reinvigorate our economy, and create millions of good-paying union jobs. Today is a good day for our planet, children, families, and our country." (x.com)
  • Rated 2% by FreedomWorks (None)
  • In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket? "Yes" (None)
  • "I joined @paschutz on @WTTW to discuss how we can best stimulate the economy, keep kids out of poverty, and ensure that corporations and the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • "The ONLY people who will see a tax increase as a result of the #BuildBackBetterAct are wealthy individuals who make over $400k and big corporations that haven't paid their fair share. Today, we passed the largest investment in climate action in American history–and one that will lower costs for consumers, reinvigorate our economy, and create millions of good-paying union jobs. Today is a good day for our planet, children, families, and our country." (x.com)
  • Rated 2% by FreedomWorks (None)
  • "Tonight, I voted to pass #HR1, the #ForThePeople Act because EVERYONE should have an equal voice in our democracy—no matter what you look like, where you come from, or how much money you have. In Illinois and across the country, the overwhelming majority of Americans agree that it’s past time we get dark money out of politics, protect the right to vote, and ensure the integrity of our elections. Tonight, @HouseDemocrats voted to make that a reality." (x.com)
  • "I support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision. In the meantime, we should take concrete, immediately achievable actions to increase the transparency of campaign spending, such as the Shareholder Protection Act." (None)
  • Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? "Yes" (None)
  • Rated 100% by Common Cause (None)
  • "Today, on the one-year anniversary of his murder, I am thinking of George Floyd’s family and all who have been anguished by his murder. In his memory, we must keep fighting for the #GeorgeFloyd #JusticeInPolicingAct to ban chokeholds and end qualified immunity." (x.com)
  • "Cosponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would ban chokeholds, stop no-knock warrants, eliminate qualified immunity, establish a National Police Misconduct Registry, and end racial and religious profiling." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "George Floyd was killed by a member of law enforcement. But George Floyd was not just killed by a member of law enforcement, he was also killed by our collective FAILURE to say enough is enough and take meaningful action." (x.com)
  • "Qualified immunity and unfair standards have allowed too many problematic and dangerous police officers to avoid the punishment they deserve. The #JusticeInPolicingAct changes that to make every police officer accountable to the community they serve." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Today, I proudly voted to pass the #NDAA. This bill gives our brave servicemembers a pay raise they deserve, directs DOD towards a clean energy economy, protects us from a senseless war w/ Iran & promotes a more inclusive military." (x.com)
  • "When we invest in what makes America strong – from our technology to our alliances to our men and women in uniform – we make our nation safer and stronger. Today, I voted for the National Defense Authorization Act to make those investments and ensure the security of our country." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of S 1605: "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "Voted for the Moving Forward Act to make transformative investments in America’s infrastructure and create millions of jobs while taking bold action to combat the crisis." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Sean rejects the notion that we have to pick between creating a better environment or creating jobs, because he spent his career doing both. Clean energy is an area where we could grow jobs by investing in research and technology, so that the next generation of wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells, and more are designed and manufactured right here, by American workers. We can make the American dream a possibility for everyone while investing in our future. Sean is committed to building a stronger, fairer economy that helps Americans reach their full potential." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Secured $1 Billion for Illinois in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act to create good-paying jobs in Illinois while improving roads and bridges." (castenforcongress.com)
  • Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth? "Yes" (None)
  • "I'm proud that the House passed @RepDean’s Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act, which extends housing assistance to foster children who are being phased out of the system & would otherwise be homeless. In @FSCDems, I talked about why this bill hits so close to home for me." (x.com)
  • "@RepBillFoster & I had the opportunity to speak to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago as part of their economic roundtable. Buying a home is a crucial rung on the economic ladder and FHLB plays a key role in ensuring that all #Illinoisans have access to the housing market." (x.com)
  • "I'm incredibly proud to have secured funding for Bridge Communities, Inc. For 33 years, Bridge Communities has been providing safe and affordable housing to families. This funding will go towards renovating their Glendale Heights campus." (x.com)
  • "In 2019, community organizations supported by the Community Services Block Grant program helped more than *9 MILLION* individuals secure employment, education, and housing. Today, I voted to deliver more resources to these local organizations so they can expand their vital work." (x.com)
  • "There is only one long-term solution to stop funding oil-rich autocrats and insulate Americans' energy price inflation: doubling down on our transition to clean, cheap American-made energy." (x.com)
  • "The Inflation Reduction Act puts us on track to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. It lowers prescription drug prices. It brings down energy costs for families across the country. I'm heading to the House floor now to send this bill to President Biden's desk." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376: "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • "With the Inflation Reduction Act, we're making the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share. And we're using that money to secure lower health care costs for working families in #IL06 and across the country." (x.com)
  • "With the current cost of gas and groceries, we cannot ask families to restart crushing student loan payments. Last week, I joined my colleagues in calling on President Biden to extend its pause on student loan repayment until the end of 2022." (x.com)
  • "If we want more people to go into public service and dedicate their lives to making a difference, we can't saddle them with a lifetime of paying off student debt. It's time @SecCardona extends the Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver to make sure all eligible servants benefit!" (x.com)
  • "After years fighting for students defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges as @BetsyDeVosED refused to provide debt relief, help is finally here. On Thursday, @SecCardona announced that he’d eliminate $1 billion in student loan debt for 72,000 borrowers who filed claims." (x.com)
  • "@FSCDems held a hearing about the $1.5 Trillion student loan debt crisis in this country. This level of student loan debt is crippling a generation of young Americans, many of whom are the first in their families to go to college, preventing their participation in our economy." (x.com)
  • "Sean is also a strong advocate for vote-by-mail, or as he likes to call it, voting at home. Voting at home is a safe and secure way to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. Democracy should not be a partisan issue. We all have a stake in promoting free and fair elections, and Sean is committed to standing up for everyone’s right to vote." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Cosponsored H.R. 1, which would stop states from suppressing voting rights and vote purging practices that disproportionately target marginalized groups." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Cosponsored John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would that would restore and strengthen parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Cosponsored the Voting Right Enhancement Act to update the Voting Rights Act’s formula to determine which states have shown a pattern of voting rights violations." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Sean rejects the notion that we have to pick between creating a better environment or creating jobs, because he spent his career doing both. Clean energy is an area where we could grow jobs by investing in research and technology, so that the next generation of wind turbines, solar panels, fuel cells, and more are designed and manufactured right here, by American workers. We can make the American dream a possibility for everyone while investing in our future. Sean is committed to building a stronger, fairer economy that helps Americans reach their full potential." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "As the former CEO of two successful clean energy companies, Sean knows that we can lower carbon emissions and create jobs — because he’s done it. Sean believes that the United States must use the power of competitive markets to encourage energy innovation and create clean energy jobs." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Introduced the bipartisan Interregional Transmission Planning Improvement Act of 2021, which would create jobs and expedite the transition to a clean energy grid." (castenforcongress.com)
  • Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? "Yes" (None)
  • "So long as we are dependent on fossil fuels, American families will continue to struggle under the weight of dramatic price fluctuations. We must invest in reducing our reliance on oil. Only then will we insulate ourselves from the whims of the global oil market." (x.com)
  • "I'm presiding over the floor of the House as we vote to #ProtectTheArctic by banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refugee in #Alaska. Drilling in this area is taking this country in the wrong direction, further prolonging our efforts to combat the #ClimateCrisis." (x.com)
  • "Introduced the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act, because fossil fuels shouldn’t cost taxpayers $650 billion a year as they pollute our air and water." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Today, the Trump administration announced its last ditch attempt to lease land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to companies for oil and gas production. It’s a senseless move that puts this fragile but vibrant ecosystem at serious risk." (x.com)
  • "We have seen far too many shootings in our schools, in our streets, and in our places of worship. Sean believes that it’s time to offer Americans smart, effective gun laws that will save lives." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Cosponsored the Bipartisan Background Checks Act that would keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them, such as convicted felons and domestic abusers." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "If elected to Congress, I'll stand up for the sane gun laws that the people of Illinois 6th demand: I'll support the Assault Weapons Ban. I will advocate for laws that allow the ATF to store gun records in searchable, electronic records. I'll support banning access to lethal weapons for offenders who have been convicted of domestic violence or who are under a restraining order (H.R. 2670). I'll support a national ban on high-capacity magazines. I'll support closing the gun show loophole. I'll support repeal of the Dickey Amendment, which prevents the CDC from studying gun violence in the US." (None)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation? "Yes" (None)
  • "Sean believes that everyone has a right to universal high quality, affordable health care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) took a big step toward universal health care by providing more than 20 million additional Americans with access to affordable insurance and has protected the 5.4 million Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions. But the work is not done. We need to protect and strengthen the ACA" (castenforcongress.com)
  • "#OTD 54 years ago, Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law by President Johnson. These programs extend healthcare access and drastically increase the quality of life of our most vulnerable populations in this country. In Congress, I will work hard to strengthen these programs." (x.com)
  • "Cosponsored the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Health Care More Affordable Act, which would make insurance more affordable to low- and middle-income families, enshrine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and stop Republican attacks on the ACA that have driven up costs and the ranks of the uninsured." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "The Affordable Care Act took a big step toward universal health care in the US, but the work is not done. We must insist on true, universal healthcare. Not just the kind where anyone can go to the emergency room, but the kind that our allies and trading partners have, where everyone, regardless of employment or wealth, has access to full preventative healthcare services, check-ups, screenings, and all the other early-detection measures that reduce the need for higher-cost, later-stage interventions." (None)
  • "Right now, Congress has the opportunity to make transformative investments to improve the lives of Americans and build a stronger economy. This includes: Paid family leave" (x.com)
  • "Happy to see paid leave become a reality for the 4 million Illinoisans who have been going without it. I’ll continue to fight for paid leave in Congress." (x.com)
  • "No employee should be forced to choose between their health and a paycheck. @SenateGOP must pass the #HeroesAct, which would secure safer workplaces, paid sick leave, and higher pay for workers across the country. #LaborDay" (x.com)
  • "No employee should have to choose between their health and family or their paycheck. I’m proud to be a cosponsor of the #FamilyAct, which guarantees #paidleave for all working people." (x.com)
  • "When #IL06 seniors told me they struggle with the costs of prescription drugs, I listened. That’s why Democrats are capping the cost of lifesaving prescription drug costs and lowering the price of insulin." (x.com)
  • "Cosponsored the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which gives Medicare the power to negotiate directly with the drug companies, stops drug companies from charging Americans more while charging other countries less for the same drugs, creates a new, $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and more." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Thank you to everyone that came out today to discuss my work on lowering prescription drug prices in Barrington. High prescription drug prices hurt far too many #IL06 families and seniors. I won’t stop fighting until we get results." (x.com)
  • "Voted to limit the cost of insulin to $35 a month." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "When someone who is seeking legal entry into the United States is mistreated by Customs and Border Patrol, they have a right to communicate with legal counsel. I’m proud to cosponsor the Access to Counsel Act to ensure this right is upheld." (x.com)
  • "Border policies alone don’t make a difference in migration. We have to address this through a holistic approach, like investing in Central America, establishing refugee processing in the region, and strengthening other countries’ asylum systems." (x.com)
  • "We can respect immigrants’ human rights while maintaining strong border security. That’s why I cosponsored and voted for the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act to guarantee food, water, health care, and sanitary conditions to those in detention." (x.com)
  • Rated 8% by NumbersUSA (None)
  • "Those who immigrated to the US voluntarily did so with the belief that they would have more opportunity in America than they had at home. Many of those who came here in bondage would later lead the Great Migration northward, driven by the same impulse. This willingness to uproot and resettle in a gave us a legacy of risk-takers and hard workers. Of course, we need to protect our borders and vet those who wish immigrate. That is not in dispute. More people want to come to the US than we can accommodate. That is a blessing, not a burden." (None)
  • "Cosponsored the American Dream and Promise Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers (undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children) and those with Temporary Protected Status because they cannot safely return to their country of origin." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Of course, we need to protect our borders and vet those who wish to come to our country. That is not in dispute. More people want to immigrate to the United States than we can accommodate, and that is a blessing, not a burden. Those who immigrate to the United States overwhelmingly do so with the idea that they will have more opportunity in this country than they do at home. Immigrants strengthen our country, and we shouldn’t shut our door to those who believe in American dream." (castenforcongress.com)
  • "Voted for The Farm Workforce Modernization Act which stabilizes the agricultural sector and preserves our rural heritage by ensuring that farmers can meet their labor needs by establishing a program for agricultural workers, their spouses and minor children can earn legal Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status through continued agricultural employment." (castenforcongress.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "Last week, I voted to provide $13.6 billion in humanitarian, economic, and defense aid to Ukraine and will continue to #standwithUkraine as they courageously defend their country." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 340: "Hamas International Financing Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692 "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • "I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in solidarity with Ukraine. The suffering thus far in Ukraine is horrifying. We must work to ensure the people of Ukraine have the financial, military, and humanitarian assistance they need to defend their homeland." (x.com)
  • "The United States must continue to partner with our allies to support Ukraine’s evolving needs." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • "#FacebookWhistleblower @FrancesHaugen’s courageous testimony made clear the devastating consequences when tech giants are permitted to put profits over safety." (x.com)
  • "Technology should work for Americans — not the other way around. Companies like Facebook must be held accountable for their role in spreading misinformation." (x.com)
  • "So long as these tech giants fail to prioritize safety over profits, the responsibility falls to lawmakers and regulators to protect public health, democracy, and to ensure that what happened to Alex Kearns never happens again." (x.com)
  • "The science behind climate change has long been settled, but this reinforces the urgent need for Big Tech companies like @Facebook to curb the climate disinformation that takes place on their websites. Climate disinformation is killing people." (x.com)
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-choice Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?
Unknown Position In order to balance the budget, do you support reducing defense spending?
Yes Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
I support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision. In the meantime, we should take concrete, immediately achievable actions to increase the transparency of campaign spending, such as the Shareholder Protection Act.
Yes Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No Do you support lowering corporate taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Unknown Position Do you support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?
Yes Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
I have spent my career working to address climate change, which I believe to be the single biggest existential crisis facing our species. For more details on my energy and climate policies and specific examples of legislation I propose, see here: https://castenforcongress.com/blog/issue/our-environment/.
Yes Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
If elected to Congress, I?ll stand up for the sane gun laws that the people of Illinois 6th demand: I'll support the Assault Weapons Ban. I will advocate for laws that allow the ATF to store gun records in searchable, electronic records. I'll support banning access to lethal weapons for offenders who have been convicted of domestic violence or who are under a restraining order (H.R. 2670). I'll support a national ban on high-capacity magazines. I'll support closing the gun show loophole. I'll support repeal of the Dickey Amendment, which prevents the CDC from studying gun violence in the US.
No Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?
The Affordable Care Act took a big step toward universal health care in the US, but the work is not done. We must insist on true, universal healthcare. Not just the kind where anyone can go to the emergency room, but the kind that our allies and trading partners have, where everyone, regardless of employment or wealth, has access to full preventative healthcare services, check-ups, screenings, and all the other early-detection measures that reduce the need for higher-cost, later-stage interventions.
No Do you support the construction of a wall along the Mexican border?
No Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?
Those who immigrated to the US voluntarily did so with the belief that they would have more opportunity in America than they had at home. Many of those who came here in bondage would later lead the Great Migration northward, driven by the same impulse. This willingness to uproot and resettle in a gave us a legacy of risk-takers and hard workers. Of course, we need to protect our borders and vet those who wish immigrate. That is not in dispute. More people want to come to the US than we can accommodate. That is a blessing, not a burden.
Unknown Position Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
Unknown Position Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?
Unknown Position Do you support increased American intervention in Middle Eastern conflicts beyond air support?
I have spent my career working to address climate change, which I believe to be the single biggest existential crisis facing our species. We must insist on true, universal health care. Not just the kind where anyone can go to the emergency room, but the kind that our allies and trading partners have, where everyone, regardless of employment or wealth, has access to full preventative health care services ? check-ups, screenings, and all the other early-detection measures that reduce the need for higher-cost, later-stage interventions. For a more complete list of my priorities, please visit: https://castenforcongress.com/issues/

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