116th Congress

WASHINGTON— Today, in a Homeland Security Committee Hearing, Vice Chair of the Committee Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) questioned top officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the need for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system across all DHS components. Dr. Alexander L. Eastman, Senior Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that EHRs will allow DHS medical officials to effectively document the medical care being provided and ensure that DHS can measure, assess, and learn lessons for future medical care at the border.

WASHINGTON— Today, Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced new legislation to help more Americans access the care they need. The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act (H.R. 5575) would require private insurance plans to cover three annual primary care visits and three annual outpatient mental health or outpatient substance use disorder treatment visits without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible-related fee. Approximately one in four Americans skip necessary medical care because of costs.

WASHINGTON— For the first time in more than two decades, legislation championed by Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) to commit federal investments to study gun violence was signed into law. The legislation passed as a part of the bipartisan appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020 and was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2019. The bill provides $12.5 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and $12.5 million to the National Institutes of Health for firearm injury and mortality prevention research.

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that her efforts to extend the biodiesel tax credit to support Illinois's rural economy were successful. The Underwood-backed legislation to extend the biodiesel tax credit through 2022 and retroactively apply the credit for 2018 passed as a part of the appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020 and was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2019.

WASHINGTON— Today, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced that her efforts to secure investments for Fermilab's top priority projects were successful. The legislation passed as a part of the bipartisan, bicameral appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020, and was signed into law by the President on December 20, 2019. The bill provides $1.045 billion for the Department of Energy's High Energy Physics programs and allocations for Fermilab's Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE) and Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II).

WASHINGTON—Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) issued the following statement on the Administration's military actions in Iraq.

WASHINGTON— Today, bipartisan legislation championed by Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) to combat the robocall epidemic was signed into law by President Trump. The TRACED Act will require telephone carriers to verify calls and allow consumers to block robocalls in a consistent and transparent way, at no extra charge. Additionally, the agreement enables the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and law enforcement to quickly go after scammers.