Written by Fall 2025 Intern Alexander Zhao
United States Representative Lauren Underwood, registered nurse and co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, gave notable insight into what is at stake with the Trump agenda and how to fight back. Representative Underwood is considering re-election and pledges to counteract the effects of President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill and ensure quality and affordable healthcare.
Representative Underwood’s primary focus at the event was reproductive rights, noting that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable. She, along with Representative Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker, introduced a package of 13 bills, known as the Momnibus Act. She emphasized the importance of the bill during this event and just how crucial it is that it gets passed.
Representative Underwood highlights her main goal, which is that “in 2025, no mother in America should die of childbirth.” She proves that there are easy fixes to most of these preventable deaths, and that the fight against cuts to healthcare is the most important way to keep the research going. Trump is threatening the affordability, effectiveness, and public trust in hospitals. The Momnibus Act addresses many of these concerns, and is crucial for the advancement of the medical field.
The Momnibus Act is focused on every factor of maternal deaths, and supports both funding and the workforce to maintain consistent, advanced care. She highlighted the lack of funding, especially currently where the GOP is trying to suspend Medicare and millions of grants to certain hospitals. This bill covers over 80% of the determinants on maternal struggles, and reaches out towards bipartisan legislation, making it a realistic, important bill.
During the event, Representative Underwood explains that “by gutting Medicaid and attacking the Affordable Care Act, the Big Ugly Bill is going to push families towards poverty and force hospitals in Arizona to close.” Referring to the Big Beautiful Bill that recently passed legislation, Underwood alerts us of the harm that this will cause to the majority. Currently, under Medicaid and the ACA, ⅘ of American citizens are able to find healthcare premiums for $10 a month. If these tax credits are suspended to appeal to billionaire donors and conservative interest groups, we could see Americans paying over $1000 monthly, which is frankly unacceptable.
Moving on from the legislation aspect, Underwood calls attention to the current state of media and public trust. She attacks the false news being spread by Trump and Robert F. Kennedy, specifically the fear that RFK instills into his speech. She states that “RFK must be held accountable for the misinformation he spreads and the way he has single-handedly undermined American citizens in the safety of vaccines.” It is impossible to fully garner public support in the Momnibus Act without approval, and moving past the blatant lies that the GOP spreads is essential.
Lauren Underwood concludes the event by calling for the action of local leaders. She emphasizes “the power of the narrative,” and that Democrats cannot stay complacent in the current era of polarization. To defeat and turn the tides of politics to our side, we need to work with each other and fight back. “Together, when we stand united and we raise our voices and we fight, we can [win].”
– Alexander Zhao
October 10th, 2025