Homeland Security and Defense

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"My most important job is keeping our community and our country safe and doing so in a way that reflects American values, not fear and hate."

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, maintaining the safety and security of Illinois communities is Congresswoman Underwood's number one priority. On the Homeland Appropriations Subcommittee, she brings her background in emergency response and preparedness to help protect America from natural disasters and emerging threats in the areas of cybersecurity and bioterrorism.

Congresswoman Underwood has introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3526, the Counter Terror Network Act, to strengthen U.S. border security and counterterrorism efforts.

Congresswoman Underwood believes in fixing our nation's broken immigration system with policies that protect American jobs and communities while aligning with our moral values. She has traveled to the U.S.–Mexico border multiple times to observe and provide oversight of the inhumane, unacceptable humanitarian crisis, and strongly opposes to the Administration's family separation policy.

In response to what she learned at the border, Congresswoman Underwood introduced the U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening and Standards Act (H.R. 3525) to ensure migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border are appropriately and consistently screened for treatable conditions. Furthermore, H.R. 3525 instructs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an electronic health record (EHR) system to streamline the medical screening process and to allow medical information to be easily shared across all DHS components.

Sign up for Congresswoman Underwood's updates on these issues and more here. You can also share your views with Congresswoman Underwood by emailing her here.

More on Homeland Security and Defense

Underwood-led Policy to Address Gaps in Border Health Security Recognized as “Critical” by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner in Recent Hearing
May 12, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) questioned the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Chris Magnus, on the implementation of the agency's electronic health record (EHR) system in an Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing. Underwood and Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard secured language and $30 million for CBP to establish the system in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations package signed into law by the previous administration.

Issues: Homeland Security and Defense Health Care and Reproductive Rights
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Underwood Continues to Protect Small Businesses and Elections From Foreign Interference During Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing
April 29, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Underwood (IL-14) continued her work to strengthen small businesses' cyber infrastructure and secure U.S. elections at a House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing. Underwood questioned Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) about CISA's strategy to share cybersecurity resources, including by hosting more workshops to help small and medium businesses, along with local governments, effectively identify and respond to malicious cyber activity.

Issues: Homeland Security and Defense Jobs, Economy, and Small Business
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Underwood Secures Commitment to Close Gaps in Health Care Policy at DHS as Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Announces Creation of New Medical Office
April 28, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON – In response to policy changes secured by Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced major improvements to the Department's medical and public health efforts. Due to a provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus secured by Rep. Underwood and Chairwoman Roybal-Allard, DHS will be reorganizing its medical and public health efforts into a single new executive management office led by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Issues: Homeland Security and Defense
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Underwood Joins Cybersecurity Briefing to Help Illinois Businesses Prevent and Respond to Cyber Attacks
March 30, 2022
Press Release

WEST CHICAGO – Today, Congresswoman Underwood co-hosted a cybersecurity briefing with Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to help Illinois businesses prevent, identify and respond to malicious cyber activity. This briefing comes at a time when American companies face increased risk of cyber attacks associated with Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Issues: Homeland Security and Defense Jobs, Economy, and Small Business
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Underwood-Backed Funding Package Creates Jobs, Fights Inflation, and Invests in Health Care, Public Safety, Climate; Includes $10 million for Projects in IL-14
March 10, 2022
Press Release

WASHINGTON— Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) supported the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The legislation makes significant investments in priorities that will create jobs, fight inflation, and support families. The legislation invests in infrastructure, supports climate change mitigation, improves public safety, honors our veterans, strengthens public health, and extends much needed relief to Ukraine.

Issues: Homeland Security and Defense Jobs, Economy, and Small Business Transportation and Infrastructure Education and Training Environment and Energy Health Care and Reproductive Rights Veterans
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