Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Passes Bipartisan Health Care & Child Care Legislation Through The House

Underwood’s legislation prohibits DOJ from using taxpayer funds to undermine the ACA, provides urgently needed funding for child care providers.

ST. CHARLES, IL — Congresswoman Lauren Underwood scored multiple bipartisan victories for northern Illinois families in Congress this week, as she continues to fight for families struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wednesday, the House of Representatives approved Underwood’s legislation, the Child Care is Essential Act, to provide $50 billion in grant funding to help child care providers reopen safely in the midst of the pandemic. Thursday, the House passed Underwood’s legislation to prevent the Trump Administration from using taxpayer funds to undermine the Affordable Care Act.

“I will not allow the Trump Administration to use taxpayer dollars to sabotage the Affordable Care Act. In the midst of a global pandemic, we need to redouble our efforts to provide high-quality, affordable health care to our families, not take it away,” Congresswoman Underwood said. “Our families urgently need support right now, and we know that if child care is not available, the burden will fall on women. I’m proud the House took bipartisan action to ensure our community’s child care providers have the resources they need to look after our kids.”

Underwood has continuously advocated for the families and small businesses of the 14th District throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Underwood joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass a second COVID relief bill, the HEROES Act, on May 15. The HEROES Act includes funding for COVID testing, tracing, and treatment; protections for essential workers; additional relief payments for families and small businesses; and direct local funding to support services including schools and first responders.