Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced new legislation to support student veterans who are at risk of being academically penalized due to their ongoing military service. Currently, if a service member is assigned to a period of active service or inactive-duty training, they could face grade reductions, failing grades, and even financial penalties if they are forced to withdraw from classes to serve our country. Modeled after successful legislation in Illinois, the Protections for Student Veterans Act (H.R.

WEST CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) pushed U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on the steep decline in United States Postal Service (USPS) delivery reliability in Illinois, and troubling policies introduced by DeJoy that undermine the service. The remarks were part of a field hearing in Chicago held by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Subcommittee on Government Operations to address the concerns raised by constituents and ensure accountability.

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced new legislation to address the health care professional shortage within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bipartisan VA Nurse and Physician Assistant RAISE Act would increase the pay limitation on nurse and physician assistant salaries to help the VA attract and retain top health care talent to ensure veterans receive timely, high-quality care. The legislation is co-led by Representative David P. Joyce (R-OH-14), the Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus.

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's (IL-14) bipartisan legislation to improve maternal health care for veterans passed the Senate on October 7^th with bipartisan support. The Senate version of the legislation is led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME).

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) delivered a speech on the House floor on the critical importance of making the historic health care affordability expansion included in the American Rescue Plan permanent. The advance premium tax credit expansion in the American Rescue Plan, based on Underwood's Health Care Affordability Act,has cut our nation's uninsured rate, provided substantial savings for individuals and families, and taken the most significant step towards health equity since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.

The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) is a landmark bill that guarantees the right to access abortion nationwide and aims to codify Roe V Wade

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) advocated for the implementation of her legislation, theLethal Means Safety Training Act, during a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing on veteran suicide prevention. The Lethal Means Safety Training Act would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand its evidence-based lethal means safety training to all VA employees regularly interacting with veterans, as well as community care providers and family caregivers. During the hearing, Underwood questioned Dr.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Unlawful Turn-aways Act to address the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) systemic denials of health care and services to veterans with general or other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges.