Media

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.

WASHINGTON—This week, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's (IL-14) legislation to make a historic investment in the U.S. nursing workforce passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. The Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (H.R. 851) has advanced as part of the Build Back Better Act and would address the crisis of nurse staffing shortages that has impacted communities across the United States throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

WASHINGTON—Today, Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) applauded the Energy and Commerce Committee for advancing critical investments from the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 959/S. 346) in the Committee's markup of the Build Back Better Act. The legislation now goes to the House Committee on Budget before heading to the full House of Representatives.

WEST CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) praised a new report from the Joint Economic Committee estimating that Child Tax Credit (CTC) advance payments benefitted 141,000 children from 87,000 families in Illinois' 14^thCongressional District in August alone, totaling $35.6 million in tax cuts for 14^th District families with children.

WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported passage of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee's portion of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, which makes critical investments in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) infrastructure. The legislation, which will now advance to the House Budget Committee, includes robust funding for resources that VA health care facilities desperately need to improve access to care and benefits for veterans.

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) released the following statement announcing that she has successfully secured $10.2 million to improve Illinois National Guard facilities in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The FY2022 NDAA was approved with bipartisan support by the House Armed Services Committee and now advances to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.

WEST CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) invited 14^th District students to participate in the 2021 Congressional App Challenge. Launched in 2015, the competition is an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The program highlights the importance of computer science and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) led over 30 members of the House of Representatives in an effort urging House and Senate Leadership and Committee Chairs to permanently expand the advance premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.