A 32-year old African-American registered nurse , has made history as the youngest Black woman to be elected to Congress . In her new role in Congress , she hopes to use her skills and experiences to fight for people who don ’ t have access to affordable health care .
Meet the 32-Year Old Who Just Became the Youngest Black Woman Elected to Congress
Lauren Underwood
A 32-year old African-American registered nurse , has made history as the youngest Black woman to be elected to Congress . In her new role in Congress , she hopes to use her skills and experiences to fight for people who don ’ t have access to affordable health care .
Lauren Underwood Youngest Black Woman elected to Congress Chicago , Illinois January 2019
Program Success 31 January 2018
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood Illinois ’ s 14th Congressional District
On Thursday , 116th Congress was sworn into office and it made history as the most diverse group having 127 women . One of those is Lauren Underwood , who also made history as the youngest Black woman in the Congress . She won as the representative of Illinois ’ 14th Congressional District .
Underwood earned a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan and graduated as Magna cum Laude . She then took her Masters program at Johns Hopkins University , where she also worked as a research nurse .
Underwood joined the politics in 2010 as part of the U . S . Department of Health and Human Services where she worked to implement the Affordable Care Act . She was appointed by the Obama administration in 2014 to assist with public health emergencies and disasters , such as the water crisis in Flint , Michigan .
Underwood herself had a pre-existing heart condition she was diagnosed with at the age of 8 . The care she received from the doctors and nurses is what actually inspired her to work in healthcare as well . It also gives her an upper hand in understanding appropriate laws and policies for Illinois families .
“ I have a two-year opportunity to make a real difference and represent the people of the 14th , and they have placed their faith in me ,” Underwood said at a recent Congressional Black Caucus event . “ They ’ ve given us a chance . I have to prove myself , and we will , beginning on day one , where I ’ m leading an effort to reform this government .” She has since been excited to be a part of “ a moment of history ” in the U . S . Congress that she had always hoped for .
“ Diversity of thought , geographic diversity , age , race , gender , life experience are all great things that we each bring to this Congress of the United States , and I ’ m really proud to be part of a caucus where I ’ m not ‘ the only ,’” she told the Chicago Tribune .