Harrisburg, PA − January 27, 2024 – Today, the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus (WHC) and the Black Maternal Health Caucus (BMHC) released a joint statement after holding a press conference to lay out their legislative priorities for the 2025-2025 session. Watch the recording here. The statement is as follows:
“Our Caucuses are committed to fighting for our driving missions now more than ever, as we head into the new legislative session. Together, we are furthering a common goal of pushing for policies that provide our communities with the rights, resources, and services they need and deserve in order to survive the current statistical disparities that are plaguing our communities. We will not back down now, and we will continue fighting for the values we believe in here in Pennsylvania, no matter the federal context.”
Together, these legislators laid out what each Caucus is fighting for during this legislative session. The Black Maternal Health Caucus reiterated their commitment to getting the entirety of the MOMNIBUS legislative package across the finish line, building on the success they had last session with the passage of their bills to extend Medicaid coverage to doula services in the state and enhance access to mental health care services for pregnant and postpartum patients.
The Women’s Health Caucus spelled out the core issues that their platform highlights, including reproductive freedom, ending the maternal mortality crisis, health care access & equity, economic empowerment, and justice & inclusion.
About the Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus
Co-Chairs: Senator Judith Schwank, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti, Representative Mary Jo Daley, Representative Gina H. Curry
The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus is a bicameral caucus of legislators partnering with advocacy groups to advance legislation and policies that promote equity and protect the health and wellbeing of women, gender expansive people, and families in Pennsylvania. As a caucus, we recognize the intersectionality of social issues that support physical and mental health. We are committed to closing existing disparities and removing barriers Pennsylvanians of all backgrounds face when seeking healthcare and systems of support. Integral to our mission is the belief that all Pennsylvanians have the right to make private, personal medical decisions.
Learn more here.
About the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus
The Pa. Black Maternal Health Caucus was formed in 2023 with state Reps. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny serving as co-chairs.
Mission: Building on the momentum of legislative victories and the increasing need for attention to maternal mortality and morbidity issues, particularly amongst Black families, the caucus intends to boldly address the disturbing trends of Black maternal mortality and morbidity in our Commonwealth through strategic, intersectional legislation and policy; create a collaborative, representative and action-oriented legislative and policy space for Pennsylvania legislators, advocates and stakeholders; introduce, advance and pass the Pennsylvania MOMNIBUS – a legislative package making critical investments and policy changes to improve maternal health outcomes in Pennsylvania.
Learn more here.
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