About Our Distinguished Honoree – Senator Bob Casey

Bob Casey has dedicated his life to public service, working tirelessly on behalf of Pennsylvania families to advance economic opportunity, strengthen health care access, and protect the rights of all Americans. During his 18 years in the United States Senate, he established himself as one of the leading advocates in Congress for children, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Over the course of his three terms in office, Senator Casey built a track record as a uniquely effective legislator, authoring and passing into law 99 pieces of legislation. His ability to work across party lines and focus on practical solutions led to legislative successes that made college campuses safer; required employers to grant reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers; improved cockpit safety on commercial airliners; and enhanced criminal penalties for online stalkers who victimize children. A generational leader on disability policy, Senator Casey’s signature achievement was the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014. Widely regarded as the most impactful disability rights legislation since the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ABLE Act allows people with disabilities to save for education, housing, and other essential needs in tax-advantaged savings accounts. Today, more than 187,000 people with disabilities hold ABLE accounts with assets totaling more than $2 billion.

Senator Casey served as a Member of the Senate’s Committees on Finance; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); Intelligence; and as the Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging. Earlier in his Senate career, he was a member of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee and Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; as well as the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee in the 112th Congress.

Beyond his legislative accomplishments, Senator Casey delivered tens of billions of dollars in federal investments to spur job creation, modernize infrastructure, and incentivize clean energy development in Pennsylvania. Among them, he secured $857 million to complete construction of the Montgomery Lock and Dam, preserving the ability to move goods through southwestern Pennsylvania and stimulating significant job growth in the region.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Casey served two terms as Pennsylvania’s Auditor General, compiling a record as a fiscal watchdog who made nursing homes safer, child care more affordable, and government more accountable. His efforts directly resulted in changes saving Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $1 billion. In 2004, Senator Casey was elected State Treasurer to oversee and safeguard almost $100 billion in state funds and pension fund assets. During his tenure, he increased transparency of Pennsylvania’s finances, expanded the state’s 529 College Savings Program, advocated for better financial literacy and consumer protection programs, and prioritized ethical and accountable investment management.

Born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Senator Casey graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1982. He spent the following year as a Jesuit Volunteer in North Philadelphia teaching fifth grade and coaching eighth grade basketball. After earning his law degree from Catholic University, Senator Casey returned to Pennsylvania to practice for six years before entering public service. He went on to win six statewide elections, more than any candidate in the Commonwealth’s history. Senator Casey and his wife, Terese, live in Scranton and have four adult daughters and two grandsons.