Underwood isn’t waiting for a Democratic majority on Momnibus
“Whatever doesn’t get done this year gets done next year is my point of view,” the Illinois Democrat says. “And no one’s told me no.”
👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! It’s Wednesday morning. Thanks for starting your workday with Congress Nerd Sunrise. It’s also Tax Day, and as you’ll see in Happenings, members are flooding the zone with events to promote—or disparage—the tax provisions in the GOP’s signature legislative achievement, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
☝🏾 First things first: The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is investigating former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) after a Southern California woman accused him of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2018. Swalwell, who resigned his seat on Tuesday afternoon, is also under investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for a separate allegation. Former Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) stepped down from Congress on Tuesday amid mounting bipartisan pressure after he admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a staffer who later died by suicide. Both men were at risk of expulsion had they chosen to remain in office.
ICYMI: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told me the House Ethics Committee needed to expedite its probe into whether Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) failed to properly disclose required information, violated campaign finance laws in his 2022 and 2024 campaigns, improperly solicited or received gifts, got special favors because of his office, engaged in alleged sexual misconduct or dating violence, and misused congressional resources or status. As I reported in Tuesday evening’s Sunset, Jeffries call to quicken the Ethics proceedings involving Mills suggests growing unease with the committee’s slow-moving process and political pressure as misconduct allegations linger.
Lawmakers have turned their attention to Mills and Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.) as the next targets of potential expulsion. Cherfilus-McCormick is facing ethics scrutiny tied largely to federal charges that she stole $5 million in FEMA funding. Jeffries said the caucus will decide in the coming days whether to take a position on expulsion, declining to get ahead of that internal discussion even as some members push for swift action.
FISA latest: The House Rules Committee reported a rule late Tuesday night for a clean 18-month extension of Section 702, the controversial provision under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows intelligence agencies to target non-Americans outside the U.S. for foreign intelligence information without a warrant. (Specifically, it forces U.S. companies like Google or Verizon to provide emails, texts, and calls.)
While it is designed to protect national security, Section 702 captures incidental communications of Americans, drawing the ire of privacy hawks on both the right and the left, who advocate for limits on data collection and seek to compel the government to obtain a warrant before searching intelligence data for information on U.S. citizens.
Section 702 is not permanent and must be renewed by Congress. It was reauthorized in early 2024, but is slated to expire in less than a week. President Donald Trump urged House Republicans to unite behind a clean extension of FISA 702, arguing it is critical to national security and military operations despite his claims of past abuses against him. More than 50 House Democrats sent a letter to congressional leadership urging it to include stronger Fourth Amendment protections in the upcoming reauthorization, including closing data-broker loopholes and requiring warrants.
The three House conservatives who sit on Rules and could have blocked the rule, which sets the terms and conditions for floor debate and final passage of a bill, from receiving full consideration this week did not vote (Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) and Morgan Griffith (R-W.Va.). But don’t be surprised if the rule fails on the floor later today.
House clears aviation safety bill: The House passed the ALERT Act on Tuesday evening in a strong bipartisan 396–10 vote. The sweeping aviation safety bill is a response to the deadly midair collision near Reagan National Airport last year and would mandate new collision-avoidance technology, tighten air traffic control procedures, and overhaul helicopter and airport safety rules. (Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.) is the only Democrat who voted against the measure.) The vote comes less than a month after the House narrowly rejected the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, which focuses on mandating ADS-B In technology and is backed by NTSB, major pilot unions, and families of the victims of the DCA accident
📌 New this morning: Underwood isn’t waiting on a Democratic majority on Momnibus
📬 Get in touch: michael@onceuponahill.com
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HEALTH CARE
Underwood isn’t waiting for a Democratic majority on Momnibus
Lauren Underwood participated in a discussion on Tuesday afternoon with the left-leaning advocacy group Protect Our Care about her signature legislative proposal: the Momnibus, a package of 14 bills designed to tackle the root causes of maternal mortality, morbidity and disparities.
America’s maternal health care crisis has worsened since the Illinois Democrat arrived in Washington in 2018. Affordable Care Act and Medicaid funding have been reduced by more than $1 trillion under Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, affecting programs that cover over 40 percent of births. The changes have coincided with more than 40 maternity care providers closing services, including labor and delivery units, while the expiration of health care tax credits has increased costs and reduced coverage for some women.
But against the backdrop of Black Maternal Health Week, and in partnership with lawmakers like Cory Booker (D-N.J.)and Alma Adams (D-N.C.), the Illinois Democrat isn’t waiting for Democrats to win back the majority to advance the agenda she has pursued since arriving in Washington in 2018.
“The Black maternal health crisis is not new. We’ve seen disparities for decades. Our colleagues can’t look away when, as a result of these policy choices, more moms are dying,” Underwood said. “And I think everyone in this moment is looking for a solution. How do we make this right? It’s the Momnibus.”
Underwood, Booker and Adams reintroduced the package three weeks ago and have attracted 204 cosponsors. Four of the 14 proposals in the Momnibus are bipartisan, and Underwood said she is looking for legislative vehicles on which those measures could potentially ride.
She told me she has encouraged colleagues to engage with the Momnibus however they can—whether that means backing one bill or the full slate—while emphasizing that most maternal deaths are preventable and arguing the focus should be on driving that number down to zero.
Despite broader cuts proposed by the administration and enacted by congressional Republicans, she said she secured more than $100 million in fiscal year 2026 investments for the policies and plans, leveraging her perch on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to pursue additional funding next fiscal year.
“Whatever doesn’t get done this year gets done next year is my point of view,” she said. “And no one’s told me no.”
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HAPPENINGS
All times Eastern
Floor action
The House is in at 10 a.m. with first votes scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and last votes expected at 9:15 p.m. on a series of measures, including the rules for FISA reauthorization, three Clean Air Act bills and a resolution expressing support for the tax policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Senate is in at 10 a.m. and will vote at 2 p.m. on an Iran War Powers Resolution.
Committee hearings
The House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on strengthening U.S. commercial diplomacy.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on the Second Amendment.
The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on combatting fraud and exploitation in U.S. capital markets.
The House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on understanding fraud in federally funded programs run by the states.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on reforming the United Nations.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on the Second Amendment.
The Senate Commerce Committee will hold an oversight hearing at 10 a.m. on the Federal Trade Commission.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on restoring the Great Lakes region.
The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing at 10 a.m. on the IRS 2026 filing season and IRS operations.
The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing at 10:15 a.m. on President Trump’s 2027 budget request with OMB Director Russell Vought.
The House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing at 10:15 a.m. on understanding AI’s economic impact on workers and employers.
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing at 10:15 a.m. on legislative proposals to improve public health.
The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing at 10:30 on the benefits of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security will hold a hearing at 11 a.m. on preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing at 2 p.m. with Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces will hold a hearing at 3 p.m. on 2027 missile defense and missile defeat programs and activities.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch will meet at 3 p.m. on the 2027 budget request for the Congressional Budget Office, Government Publishing Office and Government Accountability Office.
The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness will hold a hearing at 3:30 p.m. on military readiness for FY27.
The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing at 3:30 p.m. on programs for justice-involved veterans.
The Senate Committee on Aging will hold a hearing at 3:30 p.m. on empowering seniors through financial literacy to protect savings, prevent fraud and promote independence.
News events
House Republicans and Democrats will hold their weekly conference and caucus meetings at 9 a.m.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) will hold a Tax Day press conference at 10 a.m.
House Administration Committee Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) and Reps. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), and Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to launch a policy task force.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) will hold a press conference at 10:45 a.m. on Temporary Protective Status for Haiti.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) and Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) will hold a post-meeting press conference at 10:45 a.m.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. on the Equal Tax Act.
Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Lauren Boebert will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. on FISA reforms ahead of the reauthorization vote.
The Senate Republican Conference will hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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