MSNBC "The Rachel Maddow Show" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Lauren Underwood

Interview

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But President Biden did sign something into law today that is important and interesting. If you look behind him today at the bill signing, the person in the bright white mask here over President Biden`s left shoulder, that is Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, who you have seen on this show several times. This is the first time she has ever attended a bill signing. It`s only her second term in Congress, which is why it`s so impressive that the bill President Biden is signing into law right there is her bill.

Joining us now, Illinois Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, who has introduced what she calls the momnibus package on maternal health. The first of those bills became law today.

Congresswoman Underwood, congratulations. It`s great to see you.

REP. LAUREN UNDERWOOD (D-IL): Thank you so much, Rachel.

MADDOW: Second term members of Congress never get a bill passed. You got this bill passed. It`s part of this momnibus package you`ve pursued from the beginning.

What`s the secret to your success here?

UNDERWOOD; Well, we`re really focused on solving problems and making sure that in my time in Congress, I can use this to save lives in the country. You know, Black birthing people are three to four more times to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. And we have an opportunity to take action, to stop this maternal mortality crisis we face today in this country.

MADDOW: Now, this bill specifically focuses on moms who served, as the bill puts it. It`s specifically going to help moms who are getting maternal care through the V.A., is that right?

UNDERWOOD: That`s right. So women are the fastest growing veteran population we have in our country. Right now, we have about half a million women veterans under 40, meaning that their reproductive age, could be having babies. We know because of their service, many of them are at increased risk for maternal -- maternal death or severe mortality, really severe complications because of a result of their pregnancy.

We want to make sure as part of the world class care they receive at the V.A., they have excellent maternal care coordination as well. So, that`s what this legislation does is it helps improve the maternal health care that our veteran moms receive.

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MADDOW: Now, a lot of the rest of your momnibus agenda, as I understand it, is included in the Build Back Better package, which has been struggling -- it`s passed the House. It`s been struggling its way through the Senate.

Am I right in remembering that your original Senate partner on the whole momnibus package was then Senator Kamala Harris? Has that -- am I remembering what correctly?

UNDERWOOD: Yes.

MADDOW: Has that been helpful in terms of getting this stuff into the legislation?

UNDERWOOD: Then Senator Harris, now Vice President Harris has been a long- time champion for maternal health and equity issues, and she has been just a wonderful partner for us in the black maternal health caucus.

So we teamed up to introduce the momnibus, a comprehensive package of 12 bills to end our nation`s maternal mortality crisis. Now, our partner in the Senate is Senator Cory Booker. But we have been so fortunate to work with President Biden and Vice President Harris to get every eligible provision of the momnibus included in the Build Back Better Act, meaning a billion dollars to help moms and babies and families all across this country.

And what`s so incredible is it`s paid for, Rachel, by making sure that the wealthiest Americans and corporate tax evaders pay their fair share. So we have an opportunity to save lives and pay for it in the process.

MADDOW: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Democratic of Illinois, I love -- every time we check -- every time we check in with you, you have something else practical and sensical to talk about that you are through all the odds actually getting done. I really enjoyed every time you`ve been here on the show. I can`t wait to have you back to talk about how this progresses as Build Back Better passes and the rest of it comes to fruition.

Thank you so much for helping us understand.

UNDERWOOD: Thank you so much.

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