Booker, Underwood, Adams, Senators Unveil Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to Address America’s Maternal Health Crisis   

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act includes a series of 12 bills to save moms’ lives and end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Representative Alma Adams (NC-12) — along with Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus — unveiled the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021, historic legislation to save moms’ lives, end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, and achieve maternal health justice for Black women and all women and birthing people of color.

The Momnibus builds on existing maternal health legislation and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus of 2020 with 12 bills to comprehensively address the drivers of the maternal health crisis. The Momnibus makes critical investments in addressing social determinants of health, funding community-based organizations, growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, and improving in data collection processes. The Momnibus also includes new legislation to address the impacts of COVID-19 and climate change on maternal and infant health.

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world and the only rate that is rising. The maternal mortality rate is significantly higher among Black women, who are three to four times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications.  Other birthing people of color, including Hispanic, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, also suffer from disproportionately high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes.

“As the rest of the world works to improve maternal health outcomes, skyrocketing maternal mortality rates here in the United States are precipitating a public health crisis — one that puts mothers of color especially at risk,” said Senator Booker. “We simply cannot continue to accept this alarming status quo. This is why I am proud introduce the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Representatives Underwood and Adams that will save moms’ lives and improve health outcomes for all birthing people.”

“As maternal mortality rates continue to drop around the world, they are rising in the U.S., leaving behind devastated families and children who will grow up never knowing their moms. This crisis demands urgent attention and serious action to save the lives of Black mothers and all women of color and birthing people across the county,” said Congresswoman Underwood, co-chair and co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “I’m leading the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Representative Alma Adams,  Senator Cory Booker, and other Members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus because no mother should go through pregnancy, labor and delivery, or the postpartum period without the respectful care and comprehensive support they need and deserve. Together, we can – and must – take the bold actions that will be required to save our moms, end disparities, and achieve true maternal health justice.”

“As I’ve said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disproportionate rate of mortality and morbidity among Black women is a crisis within a crisis,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Tens of thousands of pregnant people have contracted COVID-19, the vast majority being Black and Brown mothers. As the pandemic rages on, access to quality maternal care has decreased as the barriers to receiving care have increased. That’s why, in the 117th Congress, I’m reintroducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and the Kira Johnson Act. I’ll continue to work with Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, and my Caucus co-chair Representative Lauren Underwood to ensure all birthing persons have access to high quality maternity care, no matter where they live, how much they earn, or the color of their skin. The Momnibus provides a comprehensive set of policy solutions and a roadmap for addressing maternal health disparities. Black mamas can’t afford to wait.”

A one-page summary of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, including a list of the 80 original cosponsors in the House of Representatives, can be found here, and additional information about the individual bills in the Momnibus can be found on the Black Maternal Health Caucus website.

A list of the 191 organizations endorsing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act can be found here.

Quotes in support of the Momnibus can be found here.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is composed of twelve individual bills sponsored by Black Maternal Health Caucus Members. The legislation will:

1. Make critical investments insocial determinants of healththat influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition.
2. Provide funding tocommunity-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity.
3. Comprehensively study the unique maternal health risks facingpregnant and postpartum veterans and support VA maternity care coordination programs.
4. Grow and diversify theperinatal workforceto ensure that every mom in America receives culturally congruent maternity care and support.
5. Improvedata collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it.
6. Support moms withmaternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
7. Improve maternal health care and support forincarcerated moms.
8. Invest indigital tools like telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas.
9. Promoteinnovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and continuity of insurance coverage from pregnancy through labor and delivery and up to 1 year postpartum.
10. Invest in federal programs to address the unique risks for and effects ofCOVID-19 during and after pregnancyand to advance respectful maternity care in future public health emergencies.
11. Invest in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure toclimate change-related risks for moms and babies.
12. Promotematernal vaccinationsto protect the health and safety of moms and babies.

The Senate co-sponsors of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act are: Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Edward Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tina Smith (D-MN).

In addition, lead Senate sponsors of individual bills included in the package include:

Social Determinants for Moms Act: Sen. Blumenthal

Protecting Moms who Served Act: Sen. Duckworth

Perinatal Workforce Act: Sens. Baldwin, Merkley

Data to Save Moms Act: Sen. Smith

Moms Matter Act: Sen. Gillibrand

Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act: Sens. Booker, Durbin, Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

Tech to Save Moms Act: Sen. Menendez

IMPACT to Save Moms Act: Sen. Casey

Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act: Sen. Warren

Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act: Sen. Markey

Maternal Vaccinations Act: Sen. Kaine