Senator Robert Singer’s legislation to improve the health and well-being of mothers during and after pregnancy has passed the New Jersey Senate.

“New mothers deserve the best healthcare our State has to offer,” said Singer (R-30). “Yet New Jersey’s maternal illness and death toll are frankly disturbing, especially for African American mothers. Prioritizing maternal health throughout the postpartum period will reduce preventable deaths and ensure more Garden State mothers and babies leave the hospital happy and healthy.”

Singer’s bipartisan legislation, S-3374, would expand postnatal coverage to a sixth month period after birth for eligible women on Medicaid.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of deaths of new mothers in the weeks and months following pregnancy are steadily increasing in the United States. Similar bipartisan legislation has been proposed in Texas.

“In developed countries like the United States, pregnancy shouldn’t be a matter of life or death,” added Singer. “I will continue to fight to improve maternal health throughout New Jersey, and to secure quality care for all women and families.”

Sen. Singer has been a longtime advocate of improving maternal care in the Garden State. In 2017 his resolution to create an annual “Maternal Health Awareness Day” in New Jersey was signed into law.