My friend, Lauren

I want to take a moment to speak about one of my colleagues in Congress, Representative Lauren Underwood.

In 2018, Lauren flipped a seat in Congress from red to blue in historic fashion, defeating a four-term Republican incumbent. She won every single county, something a Democrat in the district had never achieved before. She is the first woman to represent Illinois' 14th District, and at 32, she was the youngest Black woman ever elected to Congress.

But it's not just about the "firsts;" it's also about everything she's done since she became a member of the House.

Lauren is a nurse and a former senior advisor at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, so she's been a key resource on how we provide and protect health care in this country – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And in the short time Lauren's been in Congress, she's been one of the House's fiercest advocates on so many critical issues, including gun violence prevention, climate change, invigorating the economy, and defending reproductive freedom and DACA.

She has personally introduced 42 pieces of legislation, passed 15 out of the House, and had 3 bipartisan pieces of legislation signed into law. That's an impressive accomplishment for anyone in Congress, let alone a first-term member. We serve together on the Education and Labor Committee, and I know Lauren is a tireless advocate for students, working families, and our seniors.