Lauren Underwood WeLead Class of 2011-2012
Lauren Underwood
U.S. Congresswoman聽
U.S. House of Representatives (D-IL-14)
Lauren Underwood was elected to Congress in 2018 to represent her hometown, Naperville, in Illinois鈥檚 14th District. 聽In an historic win, she was able to flip the district, unseating a four-term Republican incumbent. 聽She is the first woman and first African-American to represent the district, and the youngest black woman to serve in Congress. 聽Underwood was endorsed by former President Barack Obama.
Underwood felt called to run after incumbent Representative Randy Hultgren voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 聽Less than a month before the vote, Rep. Hultgren promised he would not support a plan without guaranteed pre-existing condition protections. 聽When his vote contradicted that promise, she saw an opportunity. 聽Having worked as a nurse, and suffering from a pre-existing heart condition since she was 8 years old, Underwood readily adopted healthcare as her key campaign issue. 聽She also credits WeLead with providing her with the tools, leadership training, and confidence to run for office.
Before being elected to Congress, Underwood served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Obama administration, where she worked on responses to the Zika and Ebola viruses. 聽Growing up with a heart condition exposed Underwood to the health field and ultimately drove her to become a Registered Nurse. 聽While in school she discovered the intersection of policy and healthcare, coming full circle now as a legislator focused on healthcare.
In addition to ensuring affordable and high-quality healthcare, Representative Underwood is focusing on job creation, public education, and prioritizing affordable childcare, paid family leave, and equal pay.
Winning a seat in Congress is obviously a big accomplishment for Underwood. 聽Also noteworthy is the 鈥淭ake Back Congress鈥 ice cream flavor named for her by campaign backers Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield aka Ben & Jerry.聽