For Representative Lauren Underwood, addressing gun violence with meaningful action is a moral obligation that is long overdue. Representative Underwood knows that gun violence prevention is a public health issue, and that Congress must respond accordingly with data-driven, evidence-based policies so that every American can live free of gun violence.

Representative Underwood made history in 2018, flipping a deep red Chicago suburban seat and becoming the first person of color, first woman, and first millennial elected to represent her district, as well as the youngest Black woman to ever serve in Congress. However, it wouldn’t be long before this trailblazing leader would be put to the test by the scourge of gun violence. Less than two months after she took office, five people were killed and six were wounded by a mass shooter in her district. 

Representative Underwood vowed to remember the law enforcement and first responders who rushed toward the violence and honor the victims with action. Eleven days after the shooting, Congresswoman Underwood joined her colleagues in the US House of Representatives to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 and expand background check requirements to every gun sale or transfer. She did so again in 2021, and has been a leader in the fight for background checks throughout her congressional career.

In office, Representative Underwood has also supported efforts to limit access to guns for those who have committed domestic abuse and stalking, as well as others with existing legal actions regarding threats of violence. Because over half of gun deaths are suicides, Congresswoman Underwood is also fighting for policies that improve access to suicide prevention services and mental health care. This work specifically included partnering with GIFFORDS to introduce the Lethal Means Safety Training Act to address the veteran suicide crisis, and the Child Suicide Prevention and Lethal Means Safety Act to invest in educating health care providers in evidence-based youth suicide prevention initiatives. In 2022, she also joined her colleagues on both sides of the aisle in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act—the first major gun safety legislation to be signed into law in nearly 30 years.

In Representative Lauren Underwood, Illinoisans have a leader who will never lose the courage to act in combating the deadly impacts of gun violence. We can not lose her strong voice in Congress and we must do everything in our power to see to it that she is reelected in November

We are proud to endorse Lauren Underwood for the US House of Representatives.