Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening and Standards Act would guarantee standardized health screenings for migrants seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border.

In the cage match between Trump and the Squad, it's easy to miss enlightened comments about the Mexico border migrant crisis like the one Democratic Congresswoman Lauren Underwood just delivered on 'Morning Joe'.

Congresswoman Underwood introduced The U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening and Standards Act, which would standardized processes and training to ensure consistent medical screenings for migrants in US custody at the Mexico border, according to a news release.

"We progressive women aren't going anywhere," was her final statement. Underwood never embraced all of the Squad's positions or style; not did she try to separate herself from them. But as a Democratic woman of color who defeated a Republican in Illinois’s 14th congressional district in 2018, she's in that camp derided by our most left-wing voices. As if 'she' is the problem in executing the Democratic agenda and not Republicans!

Democratic Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Illinois 14th district, elected in 2018.

I've been so impressed with Underwood out of the gate and her refusal to separate herself publicly from the Squad under fire is noteworthy. Most of the 2018 Dems elected in Republican districts embrace progressive values and are left of center, and they were elected by Republicans.

Rather than make them "the problem", we should listen to them as tone guides for just how far Democrats can push the envelope. There's no doubt that Underwood is more discreet in choosing her words than Tlaib, for example.

Underwood was surely among the Congresswomen accused of "child abuse" by the Justice Democrats, and yet this is not the first time I've heard her speak with eloquence about the migration crisis and also introduce legislation.

In choosing to end her MSNBC convo with the words: "We progressive women aren't going anywhere", her voice will have far more weight in presenting a balanced view of the new Democrats to educated Republican women looking to align in the foreseeable future with Democrats.

The more we understand that Dems could win the popular vote by 5 million, even 8 million but lose the electoral college in 2020, I suggest that we stop pissing on the coalition of Democrats who won Republican seats in 2019.

Just because Underwood doesn't say in public she's won't rest until she's impeached the m#therf#cker as Tlaib does, doesn't mean she's not a superb young legislator.

Nice job, Congresswoman Underwood. ~ Anne

Related: In March 2018, Essence profiled Lauren Underwood with Lauren Underwood: 15 Things To Know About The Youngest Black Woman Running For Congress In 2018