Infant and Maternal Health

Maternal health is a priority for the Coalition, as the U.S. has a higher rate of maternal mortality than any other developed country. This crisis disproportionately affects people of color, as Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women in the U.S, with the CDC estimating that 60 percent of these deaths are preventable. TRCC is committed to addressing structural racism and the wide range of social determinants that contribute to these devastating disparities. We believe in the right to a healthy pregnancy for every individual.

Resources and Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resource page: “Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality”
CDC database: “Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System”
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): “Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Data and Analysis Initiative"
HHS issue brief: “Medicaid After Pregnancy: State-Level Implications of Extending Postpartum Coverage”
White House: “A Proclamation on Black Maternal Health Week, 2021”
American Heart Association journal article: “Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association”
Health Affairs article: “Pathways To Equitable And Antiracist Maternal Mental Health Care: Insights From Black Women Stakeholders”
The Urban Institute report: “Evidence-Informed and Community-Based Recommendations for Improving Black Maternal Health”
Association of American Medical Colleges article: “Addressing maternal health inequities”

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act

H.R. 3305 - Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL)

- Introduced on 5/13/23
- 193 Co-Sponsors as of 3/18/24

S. 1606 - Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)

- Introduced on 5/15/23
- 32 Co-Sponsors as of 3/18/24

Description

This act is made up of 12 individual bills, each introduced by a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, all of which address a wide range of racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, especially among Black women.
Click here to see an overview of each of the bills that make up the Momnibus.

Status

The bills are still under consideration in the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary along with the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

Additional Information

The Black Maternal Health Caucus: Momnibus resource page
Sen. Booker's office press release: Booker, Underwood, Adams Reintroduce the Bicameral Momnibus Act to End America’s Maternal Health Crisis
Rep. Underwood’s office press release: In Honor of Mother’s Day, Underwood, Adams, Booker Reintroduce the Momnibus to End America’s Maternal Health Crisis
The Momnibus is endorsed by more than 200 organizations, listed here. Quotes in support of the legislation can be found here.
Face the Nation appearance: Rep. Lauren Underwood says there's a "pathway" for maternal health bills to pass Congress
President Biden issued an official proclamation recognizing April 11th through April 17, 2023, as Black Maternal Health Week to raise awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States.

Contact

For further information about this issue or other legislation in the ELM, please contact Hannah Miller at hmiller@rootcausecoalition.org