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WASHINGTON— Today, in a House Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) continued her work to improve the quality of health care veterans receive at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities and to secure jobs with good wages for veterans. In the budget request hearing with VA Secretary Denis McDonough, Underwood highlighted the long-term mental health impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on veterans and emphasized the importance of VA's request for a $1.5 billion increase in funding for veterans' mental health services.
WASHINGTON—Today, Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced new legislation to help more Americans access the health care they need. The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act would require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or substance use disorder visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Katie Porter (CA-45).
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives Lee Zeldin (NY-01) and Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16) introduced the Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act to make health care more affordable for veterans.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) delivered a speech on the undemocratic efforts to delegitimize 2020 elections, including an effort by her 2020 opponent to contest her own election without credible evidence. The speech follows the House passage of a resolution dismissing the election contest of the 14th District of Illinois. Underwood thanked the House Administration Committee for its bipartisan, unanimous rejection of her opponent's baseless contest and emphasized the danger of efforts to violate the will of the voters.
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported the bipartisan passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (S. 937) to address the rise in hate crimes and violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and more broadly. The legislation will help combat the growing and grave crisis of anti-AAPI discrimination, violence, and bigotry made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation passed the Senate on April 22, 2021, and now heads to President Biden's desk to be signed into law.
WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood's (IL-14) bipartisan legislation to improve maternal health care for veterans passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act (H.R. 958), introduced with Chairwoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), seeks to eliminate maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities among veterans. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act is a part of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.
Underwood fought to include expanded child tax credits in the American Rescue Plan that will benefit 140,100 children in the 14th District
WEST CHICAGO–This week, U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) hosted a virtual workshop to encourage northern Illinois restaurant owners to apply for direct relief through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. During the event, Underwood was joined by Small Business Administration Illinois District Director Bo Steiner, who explained the program and provided details on the steps restaurant owners must take to apply.
WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) advocated for the passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation with twelve bills that include bipartisan policies to save lives, end racial and ethnic disparities, and achieve true equity and justice for all mothers and birthing people. During her testimony, Underwood urged Congress to include the Momnibus in the upcoming consideration of the American Families Plan.
May 6, 2021 – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, who participated in a conversation with Georgetown's nursing leaders to celebrate the beginning of National Nurses Week 2021, said, "I am so proud to be a nurse."
And to the nursing workforce, she shared a message of gratitude, particularly reflecting on the profound sadness and the added stress the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in the lives of nurses.
"I know that it's heavy, and it is hard," she said. "But your work has made such an impact, and I am so pleased to have this opportunity to celebrate you."

