CNN "Newsroom" - Interview with Lauren Underwood

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

CABRERA: This holiday weekend isn't just about the start of summer. Memorial Day is also about honoring the lives of Americans who died in service to this country. For many families, it usually means a trip to somewhere like Arlington National Cemetery or other cemeteries where veterans have been laid to rest.

But Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, a Democrat from Illinois, knows that many of the people who would normally visit the graves of these heroes are in a high-risk health group.

[18:35:04]

So she reached out by e-mail, offering to visit the graves of her constituents' loved ones for them and place flowers of remembrance. And Congresswoman Lauren Underwood joins us now.

Thank you for being here, for what you are doing. You serve on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and you'll be visiting a number of veterans' cemeteries in Illinois tomorrow, I understand. How did you come up with this idea?

REP. LAUREN UNDERWOOD (D-IL): Hi, Ana. Well, we know that there are many people, whether they're symptomatic and ill with COVID, maybe they're essential workers, or for many other reasons aren't able to go and acknowledge the sacrifices of their loved ones. We've seen during this time of isolation and quarantine that so many of our family gatherings and holiday celebrations have had to be adjusted.

And so we knew that this would be an opportunity to serve our constituents and make sure that we could mark this important occasion of those who so honorably served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice.

CABRERA: So how many graves will you be visiting tomorrow? How many families have reached out to you?

UNDERWOOD: Well, the last report that I got was we're in the 30s, but we've been doing a lot more outreach, so I don't know. I'm getting up early tomorrow, heading out around 6:00 a.m. and so we're going to have all the supplies, some flags and some flowers, and I look forward to being able to honor these great heroes. CABRERA: You offer to do this for people who don't feel comfortable

going out, are high-risk, or maybe they aren't feeling well. So what's your reaction to some of these scenes we're seeing across the nation this weekend, you know, huge crowds of people, many people who aren't social distancing, who aren't wearing masks?

UNDERWOOD: Well, I'm worried. I'm worried that we're going to see a spike in cases, increase in hospitalizations, and that more people will die. You know, while we've all been at home, the virus has been outside waiting for us. And you know, when I see these images on television, I just worry about the health and well-being of my community.

CABRERA: You worked at Health and Human Services helping communities prevent and prepare for public health emergencies. So as we approach 100,000 Americans dead in a few months' time and some people are behaving like things are simply back to normal, why do you think there's such a disconnect?

UNDERWOOD: Well, you know, there's been a little bit of a disparate experience with COVID-19. I live in a state that's had a lot of cases for a long time. We've had pretty consistently around 4,000 people in Illinois hospitalized due to COVID-19. And I personally continue to get e-mails about deaths in my personal network, people who are dying of all ages after being exposed and falling ill.

I think that that experience is a little bit different than some other people. I talk about my colleagues who, for example, in their communities might not have a health care crisis. They might only see in their backyards an economic crisis. And so, they're not feeling the tensions of both. But here in northern Illinois, we have seen sort of the dark side of COVID-19, when it takes over a nursing home and we see an outbreak there, or an outbreak among essential workers.

And then we've also seen the swift and unprecedented economic impact. And so I think that it's just a function of people not realizing the damage that this virus can do and who truly is at risk.

CABRERA: That damage may not be as tangible, as you point out, for some people in different communities.

UNDERWOOD: Yes.

CABRERA: When you think about the sacrifices --

UNDERWOOD: A simple yes. That's right.

CABRERA: You know, as we think about the sacrifices made by the people whose graves you will visit tomorrow, what would you say to people who are griping about having quarantine fatigue?

UNDERWOOD: Well, I would say I understand. This is a lot. For people who are isolated and they're alone during quarantine or maybe spending a lot of time with family members where they've never done that before or facing a real economic crisis of their own, we understand. And this is an enormous sacrifice that we are all making. But just because you haven't felt the impact of the health care crisis yet doesn't mean that it's not on the other horizon.

So, please, take this opportunity to protect yourselves and your families and all of us in our communities. There are many, many vulnerable people, whether they're immuno-compromised, have pre- existing conditions, or other reasons that they may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Take the opportunity to wear the mask, wash your hands, and stay six feet from one another to limit the spread of this highly infectious illness.

CABRERA: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, I appreciate your time today. Thank you and good luck tomorrow in your efforts.

UNDERWOOD: Thank you, Ana.

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