Lauren Underwood

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, from the very first day I was sworn into Congress in January of 2019, I have been on a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for people in my northern Illinois district and Americans across the country. It is actually a mission that started long before I came to Congress. In fact, it started when I was in elementary school. That is when I was first diagnosed with a heart condition that I have lived with ever since. Because of that preexisting condition, I spent most of my life at risk of losing healthcare coverage. That all changed when the House passed the Affordable Care Act and it was signed into law in 2010, protecting people like me with preexisting conditions and eventually extending coverage to more than 20 million Americans, many for the first time in their adult lives. These historic gains have always hung in the balance, subject to more than 50 attempts from Republicans to repeal the law over the past decade. But the ACA didn't just survive; it is now stronger than ever before, thanks to the 2-year version of my Health Care Affordability Act that was included in the American Rescue Plan. Thanks to the advanced premium tax credit expansion that I championed, marketplace enrollees are seeing savings of more than $40 per person per month, a 40 percent reduction in their monthly spending on healthcare. That means more money for groceries, school supplies, and essentials that families depend on. Medium plan deductibles for new enrollees have dropped by nearly 90 percent, from $450 to $50. Half of eligible uninsured Hispanic adults and 45 percent of eligible uninsured Black adults are now able to find a zero-premium plan. In just 6 months since the American Rescue Plan was signed into law by President Biden, we have cut our Nation's uninsured rate, provided substantial savings for individuals and families, and taken the most significant step toward health equity since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. But if we fail to act now and make the American Rescue Plan's advanced premium tax credit plan permanent, all of this progress will be wiped out in just 2 years. Americans will lose the coverage they are now protected by or once again face premiums that render coverage unaffordable and lead them to forgo insurance altogether. The gains that we have made in closing coverage gaps in communities of color will be reversed. The millions of people who might now have health insurance for the first time in their adult lives will once again lay awake at night wondering if they are one illness away from bankruptcy. We cannot afford to backtrack on the historic progress we have made for the American people. This is our moment to stand on the right side of history and finish the job to reach universal coverage that was started by the Obama-Biden administration more than a decade ago. We must make the advanced premium tax credit from the American Rescue Plan permanent and close the Medicaid coverage gap in the Build Back Better Act. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make high-quality healthcare affordable and accessible to all. The American people are counting on us to get this done, and we must deliver.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, choosing whether to become a parent is one of the most important decisions a person will make in their lifetime. It is a decision we should be able to make for ourselves. But over the past decade, extremist anti-abortion politicians have passed more than 450 laws that undermine the freedom to make that decision. Our laws should protect our rights, like the right to abortion, not control and dehumanize us. We aren't truly free unless we can control our own bodies, lives, and future. As a nurse, I know that when people have access to a full range of healthcare services, including the full spectrum of reproductive health and maternity care, they are healthier and their families thrive. Because abortion is healthcare. The legislation that House Democrats passed today will protect access to healthcare and reproductive rights for all Americans. It ensures that, going forward, we all have the freedom to control our own bodies, safely care for our families, and live with dignity. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take it up immediately and send it to President Biden's desk.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, since day one in Congress, bringing Federal resources to help the 14th District of Illinois thrive has been one of my top priorities. As a new member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am so proud of how much we have accomplished in just 7 short months. Just last week, I was pleased to announce that over $10.5 million in Federal funding for community projects was included in the House's appropriations legislation. These projects will improve the quality of life and economic opportunity in northern Illinois. In Joliet, Pingree Grove, and Richmond the resources will improve water infrastructure to give each community a reliable water source for years to come. In McHenry, the resources will help expand access to higher education through dual credit programs at McHenry County College. In Kendall County, the resources will help foster youth and their advocates by developing a permanent advocacy office for CASA of Kendall County. These investments are critical, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress until these resources are seen and felt in our community.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, led by the chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, Congresswoman Julia Brownley. Chairwoman Brownley and I have worked together on this issue for years. It is about fairness, fairness for the nearly 2 million women veterans who currently don't have access to the same healthcare as civilian women. The Affordable Care Act requires private insurance plans to provide contraceptive services without copays, but veterans using VA care have to pay out of pocket for those same services. It is unacceptable that women who have served our country bear financial burdens that most other Americans don't have to worry about. This fix is long overdue. And last week's unconscionable delay by our Republican colleagues harmed our veterans even more. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to put partisanship aside and vote for H.R. 239.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, on Monday, I had the privilege of joining my colleagues, Representatives Bill Foster and Sean Casten, and three incredible working mothers from my community, to speak about the importance of the expanded child tax credit. We heard from these working moms how the child tax credit will deliver much-needed relief for their families after an incredibly difficult year. They will no longer have to worry about how they will afford their mortgage, childcare, and putting food on the table for themselves and their kids. It is estimated that the expanded credit will cut child poverty in half, lifting 5,400 kids in my district out of poverty and benefiting thousands more. We must sustain this investment in our kids and working families by making the child tax credit permanent to ensure millions of children have the resources they need for a brighter future.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge the Senate to pass the For the People Act, or H.R. 1. This urgently needed legislation would fight corruption and the overwhelming influence of money in politics by strengthening ethics rules and reforming our campaign finance system. It would protect the foundation of our democracy, the right to vote, at a time when it is under attack in many States. I am proud that my home State of Illinois is not one of them. In fact, our legislature recently voted to expand ballot access. But for those who aren't lucky enough to live in Illinois, H.R. 1 is a much- needed defense against widespread voter suppression. As the Senate considers these long-overdue reforms, I rise today, here in the House of Representatives, to insist that representation matters. That is Congress' role in our representative democracy: to represent the American people. If the Members elected to this Chamber don't represent the diversity of the American people's backgrounds and their experiences, we can't do a good job of representing their perspectives and advocating for their needs. Consider that women make up just over a quarter of the 117th Congress, and that is the highest percentage it has ever been. We see the effects of this lack of diversity in the way our government works for women, or, rather, the fact that it doesn't work for women. Women have been hit harder than men by job loss during the pandemic. This is partly because women still do more childcare than men, and the pandemic triggered a childcare crisis. But this doesn't come out of nowhere. It is a result of chronic failure to address areas that disproportionately impact women. Because women haven't had a seat at the table, our needs have been sidelined. As a result, everybody loses, not just women. All Americans are part of an economy that depends on childcare to function. It is no coincidence that the Biden-Harris administration's bold plan to invest in human infrastructure comes just months after our first female Vice President was sworn in. This is just one of many instances in which everybody benefits when different perspectives and life experiences are represented in our elected leadership. When we talk about candidate diversity, we are talking about growing our economy, improving childcare, and strengthening our infrastructure. Good policy starts with good representation. H.R. 1 will give Americans the government we deserve by enabling us to elect people who truly represent us. One of the most important provisions in the bill for improving representation is the creation of a small-donor public financing program. In the States and cities where it is already in use, public financing is popular because it empowers candidates to get their message out to voters, even if they don't have deep pockets or corporate connections. But the Brennan Center for Justice found that public financing doesn't just increase the socioeconomic diversity of candidates for public office, it also boosts racial and gender diversity. That is why I introduced an amendment to H.R. 1 to include an assessment of the impact on candidate diversity in the required report to Congress on the new public financing program, and I am grateful that my colleagues voted to pass my amendment. This is personal for me because I firmly believe that we can have a Congress that looks like America if we just give people a fair shot. I became the first woman and the first person of color to represent my district because I refused to be counted out as unelectable in my own community. I know that women and people of color are electable everywhere. No seat in Congress should be deemed out of reach for certain types of candidates. When everybody has a fair shot, all candidates are electable, and small donor public financing gives people that fair shot. Small donor public financing and the other crucial reforms in H.R. 1 would make our representative democracy both more representative and more democratic. In other words, it would make America more American, aligning our system of government with our highest national values. So I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass the For the People Act with the small donor public financing program intact and help America live up to our values.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation and my amendment with Representatives Frankel, Nadler, Speier, and Blunt Rochester, which would require public companies to report on workplace harassment settlements in their SEC filings. The amendment is pulled from the EMPOWER Act, a bipartisan bill I am proud to co-lead alongside Congresswoman Frankel and my Republican and Democratic colleagues. For too long, many employers have tolerated, and even encouraged, a culture of secrecy surrounding workplace harassment, writing settlements off as a cost of doing business. This amendment would shine a light on major employers that fail to protect their employees, improve transparency for shareholders, and encourage companies to ensure a safe, healthy, and productive workplace. This is an important bipartisan policy, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the amendment and the underlying bill.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, last week, we passed a resolution dismissing the last House election contest of the 2020 cycle, in the 14th District of Illinois. Before this resolution came to the floor, the Committee on House Administration approved it with unanimous bipartisan support. I am incredibly honored that my community chose me to represent them in Congress again, and I look forward to a productive term. But I am not here to take a victory lap. This is an important moment, not because of which candidate won, but because the constitutional rights of my constituents were upheld, despite my opponent's efforts to disenfranchise the very people he sought to represent. Much like the previous President, my opponent ignored voters' voices by declaring himself the winner days before the results were in. Once the votes had been tallied, he again joined the former President in making baseless allegations of fraud and conspiracy. After a careful consideration of the merits of his case, the committee found that my opponent's many arguments about supposed irregularities failed to add up to a credible claim to the result he wanted. Exhibiting the utmost disrespect for his own would-be constituents, he even went so far as to attempt to invalidate thousands of ballots, under a technicality that the Illinois Supreme Court had already deemed invalid under both the State and Federal Constitutions. Specifically, the court warned that the standard my opponent sought to apply in this case would allow corrupt officials to deliberately toss out ballots of voters whom they had reason to believe voted otherwise than they desired, which is exactly what he attempted to do. By passing the resolution dismissing this baseless contest, the House upheld the results that were verified by seven county clerks, including four Republicans, and certified by the State of Illinois. On behalf of my constituents whose voices were heard despite these efforts to silence them, I want to thank the many election officials and volunteers who safely and successfully administered the highest- turnout election in history, during a pandemic. I also want to thank the House Administration Committee and its hardworking staff for faithfully carrying out the Federal Contested Elections Act by rejecting this attempt at disenfranchisement. Unfortunately, the contest in my district was just one battle in a war that is still ongoing, a war on democracy, on voting rights, and on truth itself. It will take more than a resolution to defeat the big lie: a seditious effort to delegitimize the 2020 election and every future election. As the so-called debate about widespread fraud that did not occur raged on, I have been shocked and horrified by the willingness of so many people to tell dangerous, flat-out lies, people who should know better, including, terrifyingly, elected officials at every level of government. I desperately hope for a future where the fabric of reality itself is no longer under attack, because there can be no compromise here. There is nothing to compromise on. The choice is simple: truth or lies. In the meantime, Madam Speaker, let me tell you about the reality that others have left far behind. The reality is that the American people chose Democrats to lead the House, the Senate, and the White House. In reality, Americans voted for healthcare, for childcare, and for a safe climate and environment. In reality, Americans chose historic numbers of women, people of color, and LGBTQ people to represent them in this Chamber. There are people who refuse to face this reality, like my erstwhile opponent, the former President, and far too many others in positions of great responsibility. Their denial of the truth is incompatible with the democracy we all swore an oath to defend. A few months ago, we endured a violent insurrection here in this building, an all-too-real manifestation of this widespread assault on reality. We survived the attack, but we are still in the midst of an insidious erosion of norms and policies that threatens our democracy, including by sowing distrust of our elections and our democratic institutions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in rejecting these attacks on our democracy by living as though the truth were true.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Quristin Walker for her service in my office in Washington, D.C. Quristin joined our team as a staff assistant on my very first day in office in January of 2019. She was one of just three original staff members charged with setting up a Congressional office, a task which those who have done know is not for the faint of heart. Quristin played an integral role in setting up systems and ensuring every constituent, whether by walk-in, call, or tour request, was responded to in a timely, courteous manner that was demonstrative of my commitment of service to the people of the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. She went above-and-beyond in her role as intern coordinator, often giving life advice to young people with hearts for service that extended far past the walls of my office. She was a listening ear and source of support through moves, graduations, next career steps, and more, as an accessible mentor to so many who came through our internship program. Quristin's respect for all who entered or called the office, cheery demeanor, and frequent pick-me-up treats and Beyonce music for the team proved to be invaluable assets that kept our team smiling through all the joys and challenges of our work the past two-and-a-half years. Although Quristin may be leaving our office, our community in northern Illinois and my entire staff will always consider her Team Underwood. Prior to joining my staff, Quristin earned a Bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and she currently is pursuing a Master's degree from American University. She is a proud alumna of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellowship Program. Our office will miss her. Madam Speaker, I would like to formally thank Quristin Walker for her service to my office, to Illinois's 14th Congressional District, and to our country.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Landon Bailey for his service in my office in Washington, D.C. Landon joined our office as scheduler at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. As our office transitioned to maximum telework status in March 2020 and we learned to serve Illinois' 14th District remotely, Landon played an integral role. He enthusiastically rolled up his sleeves and demonstrated patience, perseverance, and dedication to learning a new job, integrating with a new team, and serving the people of the 14th District of Illinois, all without the benefit of ever working in a physical office environment or meeting his colleagues face-to-face. While taking on that particular challenge is an experience shared by more than a few Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, the grace, humor, and kindness with which he approached the challenge sets him apart. During his tenure, Landon shifted our external and internal scheduling processes from a primarily in-person operation to a primarily virtual operation. He learned and taught others how to Zoom, use Teams, and participate in hearings via WebEx--and often navigate multiple virtual events simultaneously. He liaised with hundreds of constituents and made sure each of them was able to connect with our office. Without his efforts, our District would not have been as well- served during this challenging time. Landon's collegiality, get-it-done attitude, and grace under pressure were invaluable assets as we worked to keep our community safe, healthy, and informed in this unprecedented year. Prior to joining my staff, Landon earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Delaware State University, where he was a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and The Men of Color Alliance. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Administration from Wilmington University. I am grateful he chose to continue his career in public service by joining my office. Our office will miss his daily updates on our morning calls, his unfailing love for Delaware State University, and his ability to narrate an impromptu team-building holiday fashion show like a pro. Madam Speaker, I would like to formally thank Landon Bailey for his service to my office, to Illinois's 14th Congressional District, and to our country.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 958, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, my bipartisan bill to address maternal mortality among veterans that I proudly introduced with Representative Gus Bilirakis and Julia Brownley and Brian Fitzpatrick. Madam Speaker, the United States is currently confronting a maternal health crisis. We have the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternity health outcomes. Some of the drivers of maternal mortality and morbidity can even be more common in women who serve. For example, one in three women veterans report that they experience military sexual trauma, which is linked with risk factors for pregnancy-related complications. With unacceptable maternal mortality rates for all U.S. mothers and unique risks for veterans, we must ensure that the VA is providing the highest quality maternal healthcare and support to moms who serve. My bipartisan Protecting Moms Who Served Act would codify VA's maternity healthcare and coordination programs, which offers screenings and treatments to pregnant veterans with mental health conditions and include measures to strengthen community partnerships with organizations that support new parents. The VA's maternity care coordination programs have been successful in ensuring that veterans can receive high-quality, culturally appropriate care and robust support throughout pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and for the full yearlong postpartum period and beyond. By codifying and strengthening these programs, veterans will continue to receive the world-class care and support that they have earned. The Protecting Moms Who Served Act would also invest in trainings for community maternity care providers so that nurses, midwives, and physicians caring for pregnant and postpartum veterans understand the unique needs of veteran patients, particularly related to mental and behavioral health conditions that might have been caused or exacerbated by military service or the transition back to civilian life. These trainings will ensure that veterans receive care that is responsive to the lingering physical and psychological impacts of their service. Finally, my bill will commission the first-ever comprehensive study of maternal mortality, morbidity, and racial and ethnic disparities for veterans. By having a complete understanding of the ways in which our Nation's maternity health crisis extends to our veteran population, we can develop evidence-based solutions to improve outcomes and save veterans' lives. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the Protecting Moms Who Served Act. I thank the chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Chairman Takano, for his leadership to advance this critically important bipartisan legislation--the first bill in our Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to be considered here in the House. As a cofounder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I am committed to advancing each bill in the Momnibus to save moms' lives and support families. Madam Speaker, finally, I would also really like to thank--truly, it has been a pleasure to work with--Representative Bilirakis, Representative Brownley, Representative Fitzpatrick, and Ranking Member Bost. Thank you for co-leading this bill with me.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Taylor Ware for her service in my office in Washington, D.C. Taylor joined our office as a legislative correspondent at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. As our office pivoted to remote work and worked 24/7 to respond to the massive increase in constituents reaching out with questions or for assistance, Taylor played an integral role. Among other accomplishments, she drafted hundreds of letters updating constituents on policy changes, made sure every incoming message was promptly referred for a response, and solely managed a detailed and high-volume correspondence system. Taylor truly went above and beyond in managing constituent correspondence, fulfilling my commitment to transparency and accountability and elevating constituent concerns so we could bring them directly to Administration officials. Taylor also worked to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in Congress through her role leading Legislative Branch appropriations for the office for Fiscal Year 2022. Taylor's thoughtfulness, graciousness, and professionalism were invaluable assets as we worked to keep our community safe, healthy, and informed in this unprecedented year. I particularly want to recognize her efforts to support and mentor interns in our office, who relied on her for answers and guidance. Although Taylor may be leaving our office, our community in northern Illinois and my entire staff will continue to benefit from the results of her hard work and expertise. Prior to joining my staff, Taylor earned a Bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master's degree from Washington University in St. Louis. I am grateful she chose to continue her career in public service by joining my office. Our office will miss her kindness, intelligence, sense of humor, and love of bizarre Jell-O recipes. Madam Speaker, I would like to formally thank Taylor Ware for her service to my office, to Illinois's 14th Congressional District, and to our country.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, as a registered nurse and a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have spent my time in Congress fighting to ensure that northern Illinois veterans and veterans across the Nation have full access to the benefits and support that they have earned. A critical part of that work has been focusing on ending the veteran suicide crisis by providing veterans with the resources they need and equipping VA employees and community partners with the training necessary to support veterans in crisis. That is why, this week, I reintroduced the bicameral Lethal Means Safety Training Act with Senator Blumenthal and Representatives Brownley, Mrvan, Levin, and Pappas. This legislation is an evidence-based approach to prevent suicide, and it creates valuable time and space between a veteran in crisis and a potentially lethal means. I am honored that my bill has been endorsed by a broad coalition of veterans service organizations and suicide prevention experts, including: The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Minority Veterans of America, the American Association of Suicidology, and many more. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Lethal Means Safety Training Act and join me in the urgent mission of ending our veteran suicide crisis.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, this week was Black Maternal Health Week, an important opportunity to discuss the disparities affecting Black mothers. Maternal mortality rates have dropped around the world, but in the U.S. they have risen, leaving behind devastated families and children who will grow up never knowing their moms. And for Black moms and other women and birthing people of color, the crisis is even more severe. Throughout Black Maternal Health Week, I had deeply impactful conversations with moms, healthcare professionals, Secretary Becerra, and activists who have poured their hearts into solving this crisis. I was also inspired by other conversations I saw across the country. The need to address our Nation's maternal health crisis has never been more urgent, especially as we continue to confront a pandemic that has exacerbated existing health inequities, particularly for pregnant people. I am especially excited to have the Biden/ Harris administration's partnership in this critical work. Madam Speaker, with the American Rescue Plan and solutions like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, we can save lives, end disparities, and achieve true equity for all of our moms.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to call on our colleagues in the Senate to swiftly pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act; and H.R. 1446, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. These bills are bipartisan, commonsense solutions to our Nation's gun violence crisis. Together, they accomplish what the vast majority of Americans want, to keep guns out of the wrong hands. I was proud to cosponsor both bills and vote for them when they passed the House last week. Now it is time for the Senate to take action. In 2020, the Gun Violence Archive reported more than 40,000 deaths caused by gun violence, including over 1,300 children. Yet, despite the fact that gun violence continues to rise--and 90 percent of Americans, including 80 percent of gun owners support universal background checks--Republicans in Congress have spent years blocking bipartisan legislation to close our biggest loopholes and keep our communities safe. Gun violence is preventable, yet it is such a tragically routine occurrence in this country that every community has a story. Mine is no exception. I recently joined the Aurora Historical Society in Illinois to pay tribute to the five people murdered and the seven heroic first responders who were injured 2 years ago during a shooting at the Henry Pratt Company. The mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, said after the shooting that ``we as a society cannot allow these horrific acts to become commonplace.'' Yet, absurdly, we have already reached the point in which this unspeakable tragedy in Illinois is not even America's most lethal mass shooting in a town named Aurora. So I call on my colleagues in the Senate to take action with us so that our children can someday live in a country in which gun violence is no longer commonplace. Madam Speaker, as a nurse, I am thrilled that, in 2019, we finally directed Federal funding toward public health research on gun violence, for the first time in two decades. This type of research is critical for evidence-based policymaking, and I will keep fighting to make sure that that funding continues. But studying the problem is just the first step in our work to solve it. It is already past time to make simple changes that we already know work. Madam Speaker, background checks are a simple, effective way to keep guns out of the wrong hands. A 1995 Connecticut law requiring background checks for firearm purchases was associated with a 40 percent decline in gun homicides and a 15 percent drop in gun suicides. Meanwhile, when Missouri repealed a similar law in 2007, gun homicides jumped by 23 percent, while firearm suicides rose by 16 percent. Homicides and suicides by other means stayed flat in both States; only gun violence changed. I wish all our public health crises had such a clear, straightforward solution. Madam Speaker, H.R. 8 would require a lifesaving background check for every gun sale, while H.R. 1446 would give the FBI more time to complete those checks before a single sale goes through. These bills would not add any new restrictions on who can buy a gun or what kind of gun that they can have. Rather, it would make it easier to enforce our existing gun laws and stop guns from being sold to people who are already prohibited from owning one. Madam Speaker, I am not willing to wait for the next murderer to attack the next church in the next Charleston. I am not willing to wait for the next angry employee to murder his coworkers at the next Henry Pratt in the next Aurora, Illinois. I am not willing to wait for the next Aurora, Colorado, or the next Pulse Nightclub, or the next Parkland, or the next Tree of Life, or the next Sandy Hook. I am also not willing to wait for more women to be murdered by their abusers, or for more children to be lost to gun violence. I am done waiting. My constituents are done waiting. Enough is enough. Americans deserve to feel safe in their schools, in their houses of worship, in their movie theaters, in their workplaces, and in their homes. We can no longer live in a country where any building can so easily become a battlefield. Madam Speaker, my colleagues and I in the House voted last week for a safer future for our children. Now I call on my colleagues in the Senate to save lives and send H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446 to the President's desk.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 1, the For the People Act. My amendment would require the Comptroller General to analyze the impact of the voluntary small-donor financing program on the racial, gender, and socioeconomic diversity of candidates for public office. As the first woman and first person of color to represent Illinois' 14th Congressional District, I know that Americans with diverse backgrounds and experiences are electable everywhere in this country, but too often, excellent candidates without personal wealth or corporate backing are outspent and overpowered long before the voters get a say. The Brennan Center found that small-donor financing cannot only make running for public office an opportunity for more Americans, but also increase the racial and gender diversity of our elected officials by giving every candidate a fighting chance. My amendment would make sure H.R. 1 fulfills its promise of letting the people decide who represents them. I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my home State of Illinois approaches the grave milestone of 20,000 COVID-19 deaths. I am thinking of the families of each of our neighbors we have lost, and I am also thinking of everyone in our community who is currently suffering from the physical, psychological, and financial consequences of the pandemic. The past year has been so hard for so many of us, and it is not over. We still have a long way to go until our families' health and economic well-being is secure. Now, thanks to the work of incredible scientists, we have authorized vaccines that are safe and effective, offering a level of protection that can save lives and crush this virus. But until we actually get shots in arms, the virus will continue to spread. This process has been difficult, and the bottom line is that our current vaccine process is not sustainable. But we can change that. We must change that. The good news is that we can. We have a new administration laser- focused on ramping up distribution, and there are investments to be made in order to help. Local health departments are overwhelmed with phone calls from people wondering where to go for a vaccine. Web-based appointment signups are filling faster than people can register. Immunization providers lack the resources to carry out vaccination campaigns at this unprecedented scale. To address these challenges and carry out an efficient COVID-19 vaccination campaign that prioritizes the people who need them most, Congress needs to act swiftly and boldly. The next relief bill must include significant funding to accelerate vaccine administration with a particular focus on providing vaccine doses and outreach to ensure that nobody is left behind. We also need to fund the workforce that will carry out vaccination efforts, as well as testing, contact tracing, and other critical initiatives to stop the spread of the virus. I have introduced two bills, the Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act and the Health Force, Resilience Force, and Jobs to Fight COVID-19 Act, to make the investments that will be needed to end the pandemic, prevent the next public health crisis, and ensure a strong economic recovery. Finally, as we continue to confront a once-in-a-century health crisis, it is absolutely unacceptable that millions of Americans continue to lack access to affordable healthcare. That is why I introduced H.R. 369, the Health Care Affordability Act, which would increase the dollar amount of premium tax credits across all income levels. It would eliminate premiums for lower-income households; reduce premium costs by hundreds or thousands of dollars for middle-class families, including those who currently make too much money to qualify for the tax credit; and ensure that everyone would be able to buy a plan for no more than 8.5 percent of their income. For families in northern Illinois who currently pay 15, 18, or 20 percent of their income for healthcare, this is real savings that matters. This was included in the President's American Rescue Plan, and I urge my colleagues to support its inclusion in the next relief package. At this challenging moment in history, the decisions we make will be felt for generations. If our ideas are too small, the consequences not only mean a protracted pandemic but a stunted economic recovery. But if we pursue solutions that meet this moment, we can not only get to the other side of the pandemic, we can emerge from it stronger than before, with evidence-based public health investments that prevent future crises; with career pathways that usher in a new era of economic growth; and with a healthcare system built on a foundation of equity, where access to quality care is not the privilege of a few but the right of all. I believe that this future is possible, and I know that the decisions we make today will shape it. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle are ready to do the work we were sent here to do.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, it is the honor of my life to walk into the Capitol and onto this House floor to carry the voices and values of the people of Illinois' 14th Congressional District to this hallowed institution. The Capitol itself is the global symbol of democracy, and the Congress that meets here is charged with upholding the very first Article of our Constitution, written 233 years ago. The Capitol is where democratically elected Americans from across the country convene to represent their communities. It truly is--and must remain--the People's House. Last week, the People's House was invaded by people who committed acts of terror and desecrated this sacred space. In the days since the January 6 attack on the Congress, hundreds of concerned Illinoisans have reached out to my office to share messages of disbelief that such an attack was plotted openly yet not prevented; messages of anger at the violence and the hate that was on display that day, and at the elected leaders who capitalized on those sentiments; messages of fear for the fragility of our democracy. I also received many messages of support and concern for the safety of myself and my staff, which was a great comfort to us all, and for which we are immensely grateful. One of my constituents wrote to me about feeling ``disheartened, deeply saddened, shocked, and angry'' about the events of January 6 and all that led up to them, and another wrote about ``uncertainty and fear.'' Another wrote simply that ``there are no words to describe my horror.'' I, too, felt all of those emotions as I watched the attack unfold just beyond my office, and moved heavy furniture to barricade my office doors. One constituent wrote to ask me a question: ``What will our future look like if we continue to allow future U.S. leaders to lead and support these types of attacks on our democracy?'' It's a question that I am asking myself today, and that we are all here to answer: ``What will our future look like?'' She wrote about the need for consequences, not only as justice for the perpetrators of this attack, but also as a message for posterity. Over the past week, we in Congress have solemnly considered the most appropriate response to the President's incitement of insurrection--an attack that not only cost several people their lives, but also threatened a cornerstone of our democracy: the peaceful transition of power. It is our duty to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable, and that no historical sanctuary is granted to those who have ignited this fire. We have had to face the ugly truth that this attack was incited by a President seeking to violently overturn the results of a democratic election and reject the will of the American people. That is why today, we must impeach this President. This is an act toward preserving the integrity of our democracy. This is a message to future Americans about who we are as a nation, and who we ought to be. Each of us took an oath just days ago, pledging to uphold the United States Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Today I will fulfill that promise by voting in favor of the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it has been 6 months since the President signed coronavirus relief legislation. Since then, the House has passed two comprehensive bills to deliver urgently needed relief. Senate Republicans and the Trump administration need to do the same. Northern Illinoisans are doing everything they can to be safe and provide for their families, but this is a once-in-a-century pandemic and no community can weather this alone. We must come together. America is nearing a million new cases a week. Families are struggling and facing an uncertain future. Small businesses are closing their doors. Children are going hungry. If we, as a Congress do not act now, folks at home will be forced to face their toughest winter yet, without the support they need as human beings and deserve as Americans. Our communities are working together to help mitigate the spread of this virus. Now Congress must work together to pass a robust, evidence- based relief package. The American people are doing everything they can. Congress must do so, too.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a woman who represented the best of our country: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It is difficult to overstate the impact of her rulings and legal victories on the lives of American women, but today I want to highlight what she accomplished simply with her presence. As the first woman to represent my district, I often think of the famous incident when the Dean of Harvard Law School asked Justice Ginsburg and the other women in her class, ``Why are you here occupying a seat that could be held by a man?'' I know I am not the only woman in this chamber who has been called upon to defend my right to represent my community or even take up space in a room. For a small person, Justice Ginsburg took up a lot of space. Her life and work testify that women belong in the classroom, on the bench, in Congress, and ``in all places where decisions are being made.'' I intend to honor her memory by continuing to take up space, and I encourage every woman and girl in America to do the same.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Mark Anthony for his service in my office in Washington, D.C. Mark joined our office as a legislative fellow and served as an advisor for my work on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in addition to handling a policy portfolio that included defense, foreign affairs, agriculture, and trade. Among other accomplishments, he coordinated legislation to improve mental health care delivery at the VA and worked with our agricultural community to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and ongoing trade tensions. Mark was instrumental in the development and introduction of the Lethal Means Safety Training Act, the Veterans in STEM Act, and the No Coronavirus Copays for Veterans Act. Mark's professionalism, work ethic, and dedication were invaluable assets throughout his time in my office. I commend his drive to advance mental health and suicide prevention services for veterans and to improve outcomes for women veterans and younger veterans. Although Mark may be leaving our office, our veterans in northern Illinois and our community members who support and honor them will continue to benefit from the results of his hard work and expertise. Prior to joining my staff, Mark earned a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University and served our country as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he deployed twice in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I am grateful he chose to continue his career in public service by joining my office. Our office will miss his kindness, diligence, and friendship. Madam Speaker, I would like to formally thank Mark Anthony for his service to my office, to lllinois' 14th Congressional District, and to our country.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5736) to direct the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to develop and disseminate a threat assessment regarding threats to the United States associated with foreign violent white supremacist extremist organizations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the surge in white supremacist extremist attacks in the United States and around world puts all of us at risk, I commend my committee colleague Mr. Rose for introducing this legislation, and I urge passage. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. UNDERWOOD

Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5780) to enhance stakeholder outreach to and operational engagement with owners and operators of critical infrastructure and other relevant stakeholders by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to bolster security against acts of terrorism and other homeland security threats, including by maintaining a clearinghouse of security guidance, best practices, and other voluntary content developed by the Agency or aggregated from trusted sources, and for other purposes, as amended.