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Statement

MomsRising’s Tina Sherman Applauds House Committee for Addressing Black Maternal Health Crisis

September 15, 2021
Maternal Mortality, Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Tina Sherman, Senior Campaign Director, Maternal Justice at MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on today’s U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee mark-up of the Build Back Better legislation:

“The House Energy & Commerce Committee took meaningful steps to improve women’s health today with a historic investment in maternal health and measures to address the Black maternal health crisis by including critical pieces of the Momnibus Act. The Build Back Better legislation includes funds to address social determinants of health, support diversification of the perinatal health workforce, provide grants to improve maternal mental health, strengthen federal maternal health programs, and support anti-bias trainings for health care professionals. Its mandatory provision to make federal funds permanently available for states to support expanded Medicaid and CHIP coverage is essential. It is past time we ensure that all pregnant women on Medicaid can keep their health insurance for the critical post-partum first year.

“This legislation clears the first hurdle for addressing the Black maternal health crisis, saving lives, and improving health outcomes for mothers and babies. It is very welcome and long overdue.”

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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.