Lauren Underwood

Congresswoman Lauren Underwood has served Illinois’ 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019 (116th Congress-Present). She was the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent her community in Congress. When she joined Congress, Underwood was also the youngest African American woman to serve in the House. Underwood serves on the House Committee on Appropriations. Underwood co-founded and co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus, elevating the Black maternal health crisis within Congress and advancing policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end disparities. Before her election to Congress, Underwood was Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she helped implement the Affordable Care Act — broadening access for those on Medicare, improving health care quality, and reforming private insurance. Underwood is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University.