Underwood, Lauren

Lauren Underwood has represented Illinois' 14th Congressional District since January 2019, when she made history as the youngest Black woman to serve in Congress. She grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan and two master's degrees from Johns Hopkins University. Before her election, she worked as a policy professional in the Obama administration, serving as a senior advisor at the Department of Health and Human Services where she helped implement the Affordable Care Act and responded to public health emergencies.

Underwood serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, where she is the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security subcommittee, and the House Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. She also serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security. In 2022, she was elected by her colleagues to serve as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a leadership position within the chamber.

As a registered nurse with a personal history of managing a heart condition, healthcare access has been central to her legislative agenda. She co-founded and co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus, which addresses maternal mortality and health disparities. Her signature legislation includes the Healthcare Affordability Act, signed into law as part of President Biden's American Rescue Plan and extended in the Inflation Reduction Act. She also introduced the Momnibus, a comprehensive package of bills addressing maternal health. In total, she has had eighteen pieces of legislation signed into law by both Democratic and Republican presidents.

Underwood made history in 2018 when she flipped the district from Republican to Democratic control, defeating four-term incumbent Randy Hultgren with 52.5% of the vote. She was the first woman, first person of color, and first millennial elected to represent her district. She has been reelected in 2020, 2022, and 2024, winning with 55% of the vote in her most recent race.