Co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus celebrates seventh annual elevation of critical fight
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), co-founders of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, along with Senator Cory Booker (NJ) and Senator Laphonza Butler (CA), are ushering in the seventh annual Black Maternal Health Week today, which runs from April 11-17. The four lawmakers are House and Senate leads for the Black Maternal Health Week Resolution.
The Black Maternal Health Caucus and Black Maternal Health Week serve primarily to raise awareness of the acute health crisis that affects pregnant Black women – who see an exceptionally high mortality rate in their pregnancies compared to the rest of the developed world and compared to women of other races in the United States.
This week, Rep. Adams and her allies are highlighting their signature legislation, The Momnibus Act, to reduce maternal mortality, and participating in a number of events to raise awareness of the issue.
“During Black Maternal Health Week, a growing movement stands together to recognize maternal health disparities,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. “We will take this week to recommit to a world where maternal justice and equality are a reality. We are working diligently to pass the full Momnibus Act package – from which we passed the first bill last Congress – to comprehensively address existing gaps in policy solutions to the maternal health crisis. Since introducing the first resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week in 2018, and launching the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019, we have made great strides, especially now that we have the White House and the Biden-Harris Administration leading the fight.”
The Momnibus Act, first introduced in 2019 and reintroduced for the third time in 2023, includes 13 legislative proposals to reduce maternal mortality, one of which, the Moms Who Served Act, was passed in the last Congress (2021-23). The White House has also aggressively taken on the Black maternal health crisis, funding maternal health initiatives through the NIH and HHS to the tune of over $100 million and creating the first ever White House task force dedicated to studying the issue and finding solutions.
Throughout the week, Members and Senators will be participating in many events. Rep. Adams is scheduled to join the following:
-
The Maternal Health Fair, Howard University Hospital
-
The Black Maternal Health Week Reception, Cannon HOB
-
The HHS Partnership Center’s 2nd annual Black Maternal Health Outcomes Matter: Keeping Hope Alive!, Dept of HHS
-
CareRing’s Black Maternal Health Conference and Carewalk, Charlotte
Press and interested advocates are encouraged to inquire for all events.
###
Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.