116th Congress
Washington—Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) today questioned Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on the Department's failures that limit the civil rights of students with disabilities. Under the leadership of Secretary DeVos, the Department has failed to be transparent about states' applications for waivers to the 1% cap on alternate assessments enacted by the Every Student Succeeds Act. This transparency is critical and required by law so parents can ensure their kids are getting the right assessments and a good education that allows them to fulfill their potential.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswomen Alma Adams (NC -12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus to improve black maternal health outcomes. The United States has the worst maternal death rates in the developed world, at 18 death per 100,00 live births. The maternal mortality rate is alarmingly higher among black women, at 40 deaths per 100,000 live births.
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Vice Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, today released the following statement on the resignation of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Underwood spent this weekend at the U.S.-Mexico border with members of the Committee examining ports of entry and learning about the conditions at detention facilities for those seeking asylum.
WASHINGTON– Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL) today announced the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization of 2019 (H.R. 1585), a bipartisan, robust, long-term Violence Against Women Act reauthorization. The legislation, co-sponsored by Underwood, would reauthorize funding for five years and make vital improvements to address gaps in current law, based on extensive consultation with victim service providers, law enforcement, and other experts.
WASHINGTON– Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), along with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), introduced the Women's Retirement Protection Act of 2019 (WRPA) to address the retirement gap and strengthen women's financial security.
WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Educare of West DuPage $1,233,514 in federal grant funding. Educare of West DuPage is a part of a national network of schools partnered with Early Head Start funding to ensure more children in the state of Illinois have access to early education.
WASHINGTON—This week, the Health Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce considered Rep. Lauren Underwood's legislation, H.R. 1010, which would help protect Americans with preexisting conditions by overturning an Administration rule that expands limited duration insurance, commonly known as "junk plans." H.R. 1010 passed the Health Subcommittee by a vote of 19-13 and will now be sent to full committee for review.
WASHINGTON –Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Sean Casten (IL-6) today announced the introduction of new legislation, H.R. 1757, that would provide tax relief to Illinois families unfairly harmed by a new tax burden included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Republican tax law enacted in 2017 disproportionately hurts Illinoisans in the 14th and 6th Congressional Districts by imposing a new cap of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction at $10,000, whether they file individually or jointly. This deduction was previously unlimited.
WASHINGTON –Congresswoman Lauren Underwood today introduced legislation along with original cosponsors Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) that would improve affordability by reducing premium costs for consumers who purchase plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Health Care Affordability Act (H.R. 1868) would expand eligibility for premium tax credits beyond 400 percent of the federal poverty line, and would increase the size of the tax credit for all income brackets.
WASHINGTON– Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, yesterday joined the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations to hear from health experts on impacts of the family separation policy on children separated at the border. During this hearing, Underwood continued her efforts to highlight how toxic stress impacts children. Experts agree that the immediate and long-term effects of child separation is harmful to the health of children.