Congresswoman Lauren Underwood made history as the first woman, the first person of color, and the first millennial to represent Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. She is also the youngest Black woman to serve in the United States House of Representatives. Underwood is a registered nurse with a passion for public health.
“When I was in elementary school, I was diagnosed with a heart condition and had to see my cardiologist quarterly,” Underwood told Education and Career News. “I was really inspired by the care that I got from those folks, so that set me on a path toward healthcare.”
Underwood grew up in Naperville, Illinois, and is a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts. She attended the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor of science in nursing, and then went on to Johns Hopkins University, where she received master's degrees in nursing and public health. She also completed a fellowship at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and returned to Johns Hopkins as a Nurse Researcher.
In 2014, Underwood became a senior advisor at the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working in disaster relief. While there, she worked to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
She made her transition into politics after being appointed by President Barack Obama as a special advisor and meeting with the Flint, Michigan community to advise on the drinking water crisis. Underwood is not only a strong voice for the nursing profession but also for maternal health research—for Black moms, in particular—and gun violence prevention.
When Underwood announced her candidacy for the House of Representatives in August 2017, her platform focused on improving the Affordable Care Act, expanding job opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and paid family leave. This year, she is running for reelection. Underwood serves on the Committee on Education and Labor, is Vice-Chair of the Committee on Homeland Security, serves on the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and is an active member of the House Nursing Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus.