U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Cory Booker, Andy Kim Spotlight Maternal Health, Call for Urgency to Improve Maternal Mortality
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) today introduced a bipartisan resolution officially designating January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day. The resolution emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness about maternal health outcomes and promotes initiatives to address and eliminate its disparities.
“Improving maternal care is not a red or blue issue. It’s an American issue,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing National Maternal Health Awareness Day, while acknowledging we have more work to do to reduce maternal mortality. I will continue to work across the aisle with my colleagues to improve health outcomes for women throughout their pregnancy journeys and support moms across our nation.”
“The United States spends more on health care than any other country, but we still have the highest rate of maternal mortality among our peer countries,” said Senator Booker. “It’s disheartening that Congress has failed to pass comprehensive federal legislation to protect mothers and their babies, and ensure moms receive the essential care they need throughout their pregnancy and postpartum journeys. I remain committed to working across the aisle to create and implement effective policies that address the maternal mortality crisis and promote equitable maternal health care across our nation.”
“In a country of such great wealth and power, it is heartbreaking that we continue to let down expecting mothers who deserve to feel safe and supported,” said Senator Kim. “The pain of our country’s maternal mortality crisis is felt harshly in New Jersey, disproportionately hurting Black women and devastating too many families. With this resolution, I don’t just stand for awareness but call on my colleagues in Congress to see this urgency, understand the vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable, and help push forward on tangible action to protect lives and be there for growing families.”
The Senators’ resolution notes that as many as 60,000 women in the United States suffer from severe maternal morbidity, unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that can result in significant short- and long-term health consequences. With one-third of maternal mortality cases occurring between one week and one year postpartum, expanding access to health care before and after birth nationwide is a vital step to mother’s lives.
“As the maternal health crisis in the U.S. continues, it’s critical to continue to shine a spotlight and bring national attention to the importance of prioritizing maternal health. ACOG is grateful to Senator Booker and Senator Britt for their support in making sure that across the country, people learn about Maternal Health Awareness Day and understand the need for policies that will empower us to make a meaningful difference to improve maternal health outcomes,” said Stella Dantas, MD, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Senator Britt has made health care, including maternal care, a top legislative priority. She joined former-Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) in introducing the NIH IMPROVE Act last congress, which would provide consistent support and resources for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Implementing a Maternal Health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative to continue important research to find evidence-based solutions for America’s maternal mortality crisis.
Senator Britt was also instrumental in advocating and securing committee passage for an additional $20 million increase for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. With Senator Britt’s support, the total appropriated in the Committee’s bill for the NIH IMPROVE Initiative would be $73.4 million for FY25.
The full text of the resolution can be found here.
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