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Statement

Moms Leader Praises Introduction of Maternal Mortality Bill

August 28, 2018
Maternal Health, Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Monifa Bandele, vice president of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the introduction of the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE) Act by U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

“This week, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris introduced a revolutionary bill addressing the main factors that cause racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. By providing $30 million in annual grants to train against racial bias and incentivize health care professionals, this bill has the potential to ameliorate a national crisis.

“In the United States, Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications. Even more astonishing, stats show that socioeconomic status plays almost no role in these racial disparities: Black women with a college degree still have higher rates of severe pregnancy complications than white women without a high school degree. Implicit racial bias is running rampant in our health care system, and it’s costing Black women their lives.

“Sen. Harris’ bill calls for health equity programs that could have a profound impact, including racial bias training, as well as programs that screen pregnant women for risk factors before they give birth. We are grateful for Sen. Harris’ leadership and urge other members of Congress to protect their Black constituents by turning this bill into law.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.