It’s been a busy first term for U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville).
The freshman congresswoman and Naperville native is co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, created to address the high maternal death rate for black women, and this month, two of her bills – related to banning “junk insurance” and preventing suicide among veterans – passed the House.
Underwood also made national headlines after having a heated exchange over immigration policies at a budget hearing last week with acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan.
“At this point, with five kids that have died, 5,000 separated from their families, I feel like – and the evidence is really clear that this is intentional. It’s intentional. It’s a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration, and it’s cruel and inhumane,” she said.
McAleenan responded by calling her statement “an appalling accusation.”
In an interview with the Daily Herald after the exchange, Underwood said, “There are policies that have been put in place that contribute to the ongoing medical conditions, lack of availability of treatment and the way (migrants) are handled before they are able to access medical providers.”
Underwood joins us in discussion.
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