Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), along with Reps. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) as well as Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), have introduced House and Senate companion resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, “to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the urgent importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.” The House resolution has 70 original cosponsors; the Senate resolution has 17 original cosponsors. Black Maternal Health Week started on Tuesday, April 11 and ends today, Monday, April 17. 

The resolution underscores the disproportionate health complications suffered by Black birthing people during pregnancy who face a maternal mortality rate three times that of their white counterparts due to structural racism and gender oppression in maternal health care experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these inequities, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that the maternal mortality rate for Black women has increased by 26% since the pandemic began. In order to reverse these alarming trends, the resolution calls on Congress to “support and encourage policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity.”

“As a mother myself, and now, a first-time grandmother, I’ve seen personally the difficult health care experiences that Black women face all too often when pregnant,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and the House Health Subcommittee. “Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity for us to bring national awareness to the health disparities that affect Black moms disproportionately. We know we have a maternal mortality crisis in America, and it’s even worse for women of color. Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women. While the House successfully passed part of the Momnibus last Congress, legislation I proudly championed, we must refocus our attention in the 118^thCongress on the urgent need to address this health crisis, tackle racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes, and ultimately, save moms’ lives.”

"During Black Maternal Health Week we recognize maternal health disparities and recommit to creating a world where maternal justice and equality are a reality," said Congresswoman Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. "In 2018, I was honored to introduce the first Congressional resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week with then-Senator Kamala Harris and Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In 2019, I asked the youngest Black woman elected to Congress, Lauren Underwood, if she wanted to launch a Congressional Caucus focused on Black maternal health. So, we launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus, which now boasts 115 bipartisan Members of Congress. In 2020, we introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act – a package of 12 bills to comprehensively address existing gaps in policy solutions to the maternal health crisis. The bill was crafted with Black women, by Black women and for Black women. Last Congress, we re-introduced the Momnibus, and passed the first bill from the package. I’m so excited to continue this work in this Congress, because Black mamas can't wait."

“Our country’s Black maternal health crisis demands urgent action,” said Congresswoman Underwood, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “In 2019 I co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Congresswoman Alma Adams to respond to this crisis and advance evidence-based solutions that will save lives and end disparities. I'm thrilled to continue this work by introducing this resolution with Congresswoman Adams to recognize Black Maternal Health Week 2023 and I am grateful to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance for their leadership in establishing this critical week of awareness and action. We must continue to elevate Black maternal health as a national priority and pass the entire Momnibus.”

“The US maternal mortality crisis, especially among Black Americans, requires urgent attention and action,” said Senator Booker. “As the richest country in the world, it is a travesty that our nation continues to top the maternal mortality rate among its peer countries. We must do more to address this crisis and find meaningful solutions that will end the disparities in care that Black people face when giving birth. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this resolution that calls on Congress to improve Black maternal health by providing economic support, promoting community-driven solutions to better understand the causes of maternal death and complications from birth, and increasing access to quality, affordable health care for Black communities.”

In addition to Blunt Rochester, Adams, and Underwood, co-sponsors include Representatives Allred, Balint, Beatty, Bonamici, Brown, Budzinski, Bush, Carson, Carter, Cardenas, Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Connolly, Crockett, Crow, Davids, Dingell, Escobar, Evans, Garamendi, Garcia, Goldman, Gottheimer, Hayes, Kamlager-Dove, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Kuster, Lee, Jacobs, McClellan, McGovern, McCollum, Meeks, Meng,  Moore, Morelle, Moulton, Nadler, Omar, Payne Jr., Plaskett, Pressley, Ross, Sablan, Scanlon, Schloten, Sewell, Slotkin, Smith, Soto, Stansbury, Stevens, Strickland, Sykes, Thanedar, Trone, Wasserman Schultz, Watson Coleman, and Veasey.

In addition to Booker, the resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by: Senators Merkley, Cortez Masto, Markey, Warren, Padilla, Blumenthal, Murray, Menendez, Duckworth, Smith, Baldwin, Van Hollen, Durbin, Stabenow, Rosen, Sanders, and Brown.

Black Mamas Matter Alliance and March of Dimes are two of the supporters of the resolution. A full list of organizations supporting the resolution can be found here.

Full text of the resolution can be found here.

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