Mobile Menu - OpenMobile Menu - Closed

Momnibus

About the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020

Background

In the richest nation on earth, moms are dying at the highest rate in the developed world – and the rate is rising. For as dire as the situation is for all women, the crisis is most severe for Black moms, who are dying at 3 to 4 times the rate of their white counterparts. To address the maternal health crisis in America, Congressional leaders have been fighting for critically important policies like 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage, investments in rural maternal health, the promotion of a diverse perinatal workforce, and the implementation of implicit bias trainings.

To build on this work, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Congresswoman Alma Adams, Senator Kamala Harris, and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus are introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus will fill gaps in existing legislation to comprehensively address every dimension of the Black maternal health crisis in America. The time to end preventable maternal mortality and close racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes is long overdue. Join us in taking urgent action to save our moms.

Bill Summary

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus is composed of nine individual bills sponsored by Black Maternal Health Caucus Members. The legislation will:

  1. Make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition.
  2. Provide funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women.
  3. Comprehensively study the unique maternal health risks facing women veterans and invest in VA maternity care coordination.
  4. Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives maternity care and support from people she can trust.
  5. Improve data collection processes and quality measures to better understand the causes of the maternal health crisis in the United States and inform solutions to address it.
  6. Invest in maternal mental health care and substance use disorder treatments.
  7. Improve maternal health care and support for incarcerated women.
  8. Invest in digital tools like telehealth to improve maternal health outcomes in underserved areas.
  9. Promote innovative payment models to incentivize high-quality maternity care and continuity of health insurance coverage from pregnancy through labor and delivery and up to 1 year postpartum.

Momnibus Bill Numbers & Summaries

Original Cosponsors

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus is led by Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Alma S. Adams in the House of Representatives and Senator Kamala Harris in the Senate. The Momnibus is cosponsored by Representatives Terri Sewell, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mary Gay Scanlon, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Ilhan Omar, Tim Ryan, Gwen Moore, Wm. Lacy Clay, Ro Khanna, Karen Bass, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Joe Kennedy III, Al Lawson, Elaine G. Luria, Ayanna Pressley, Jan Schakowsky, Deb Haaland, Abigail Spanberger, Donna Shalala, and Seth Moulton. A current list of cosponsors can be found here.

Endorsements

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus is endorsed by more than 120 organizations: the Black Mamas Matter Alliance; Black Women's Health Imperative; National Birth Equity Collaborative; Mamatoto Village Inc; Ancient Song Doula Services; National Perinatal Task Force; Commonsense Childbirth; NAACP; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); Center for Reproductive Rights; National Partnership for Women & Families; Equitable Maternal Health Coalition; March for Moms; Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP); March of Dimes; Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine; American Academy of Family Physicians; Families USA; Every Mother Counts; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN); American College of Nurse-Midwives; Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Federation of American Hospitals (FAH); America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP); National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health; MomsRising; Mom Congress; Center for American Progress; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; NARAL Pro-Choice America; American Public Health Association; The National Council of Urban Indian Health; National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM); National WIC Association; First Focus Campaign for Children; American College of Physicians; Northwestern Medicine; Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; National Women’s Law Center; 1,000 Days; Dr. Shalon’s Maternal Action Project; DONA International; Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA); Health Care Transformation Task Force; Centering Healthcare Institute; Nurse-Family Partnership; American Organization for Nursing Leadership; National Organization for Women; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda; Preeclampsia Foundation; WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease; National Health Law Program; The Blavatnik Family Women's Health Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Northwestern University's Center for Health Equity Transformation; Shades of Blue Project; Access Community Health Network (ACCESS); Association of Black Cardiologists; Trust for America's Health; Society for Public Health Education; AllianceChicago; Jacobs Institute of Women's Health; Urban Mommy Inc; Save The Mommies; California Breastfeeding Coalition; Northern Illinois Church Of God In Christ; Circle Up - United Methodist Women for Moms; Muslims for Progressive Values; National Council of Jewish Women; American Association of Birth Centers; Lamaze International; Children's Health Fund; Center for Black Women's Wellness; Alliance for Early Success; Sésé Doula Services; Dr. Jamila Taylor, Director of Health Care Reform, the Century Foundation; Elizabeth Dawes Gay, MPH, Founder of Sisu Consulting and Co-Founder of Black Mamas Matter Alliance; Elizabeth A. Howell, MD, MPP, Director, Blavatnik Family Women’s Health Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai; Johnson & Johnson; Association of State Public Health Nutritionists; Community Catalyst; Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior; A Better Balance; Power to Decide; Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need; APS Foundation of America, Inc; African American Breastfeeding Network; Healing Hands Community Doula Project; HealthConnect One; Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas; SisterReach; Children's Defense Fund – TX; United Ways of TX; BreastfeedLA; Pretty Mama Breastfeeding LLC; Advanced Practice Wellness; Children's HealthWatch; National Association of Professional and Peer Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC); Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; Dem Black Mamas Podcast; Atlanta Doula Collective; Majaica, LLC & Save 100 Babies; The Afiya Center; Ounce of Prevention Fund; MS Black Women’s Roundtable; Black Mamas ATX; Hollywood NOW; YWCA USA; Mama Glow; Nzuri Malkia Birth Collective; Mothering Justice; Black Women for Wellness; Physicians for Reproductive Health (PRH); Diversity Uplifts, Inc; Restoring Our Own Through Transformation; Cityblock Health; Black Women Birthing Justice; The Alliance for the Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines; National Action Network; Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA); National Association to Advance Black Birth; Sista Midwife Productions; Doula Philosophy; EverThrive Illinois; What To Expect Project; and The Big Push for Midwives Campaign.

What People Are Saying about the Black Maternal Health Momnibus

The Momnibus, put forward by the Black Maternal Health Caucus, has the potential to be transformative for Black maternal health because it goes beyond addressing maternal death and helps to advance maternal health equity. By centering black women-led organizations like BMMA in the process, this package takes a proactive approach to addressing many of the systematic public health challenges, workforce development issues, and everyday experiences of Black birthing persons before, during, and after pregnancy. Thank you to the Black Maternal Health Caucus for prioritizing the needs of those most impacted by the maternal health crisis in the United States. - Angela Aina, Interim Executive Director of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance

The Center for Reproductive Rights applauds Representatives Lauren Underwood, Alma Adams, Ayanna Pressley, Joe Kennedy, Sharice Davids, Gwen Moore, Lucy McBath, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Jan Schakowsky, Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and the Black Maternal Health Caucus for introducing a human rights-based solution to the Black maternal health crisis in the US. This significant undertaking unabashedly addresses racism in our health care system – the root cause of the issue. From start to finish, the “Momnibus” fights for the right of all birthing and postpartum people to access safe and respectful maternal health care. We are proud to endorse a package of bills that meaningfully centers the voices, experiences, and leadership of Black and Brown communities. We look forward to continue working with the Black Maternal Health Caucus to raise awareness and address this human rights crisis. - Jennifer Jacoby, Federal Policy Counsel, Center for Reproductive Rights

While the rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States are unacceptable, even more concerning is the stark racial and ethnic disparities in these outcomes. As the Nation’s leading physician organization dedicated to advancing women’s health, ACOG is fully committed to confronting implicit and explicit bias and racism as a critical part of our work to provide high quality, respectful care to all women, improve maternal health outcomes, and eliminate disparities in women’s health. We are grateful to the Black Maternal Health Caucus, under the leadership of Representatives Underwood and Adams, for its partnership and tireless work in developing its Momnibus. This important legislation promotes diversity and inclusivity in the perinatal workforce and aims to directly impact the unacceptable rate of maternal deaths among Black women. We share in the Caucus’ goals and look forward to continuing our work together to advance meaningful legislation that improves maternal health.” - Maureen Phipps, MD, MPH, FACOG, Chief Executive Officer, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

AMCHP commends the Black Maternal Health Caucus on the introduction of its Momnibus. As leaders in maternal and child public health, we know that there is not a singular magic policy solution that will solve the crisis of maternal mortality or narrow the significant disparities that exist. We are grateful to the Caucus leadership in introducing a comprehensive package of bills that together can help us improve maternal health outcomes in all communities in the U.S. We especially applaud the deliberate decision to ensure that the proposed approaches are inclusive of leadership from communities historically given insufficient resources in generating and implementing solutions. - Jonathan Webb, CEO, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs

The black maternal mortality crisis has multiple causes and saving mothers’ lives will require multiple approaches. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus will address this crisis with a broad range of public policies. On behalf of the members of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, I thank Representatives Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood, along with the other members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, for their leadership on bringing solutions forward to end this crisis. Congress should immediately pass this legislation! - Rebecca Cypher, MSN, PNNP, 2020 Board President, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)

Supporting women’s health and delivering babies are part of what puts the ‘family’ in family medicine, and family physicians are a critical part of giving moms and their babies the best start. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020 will go a long way toward addressing the health disparities and poor outcomes that women of color continue to experience in the United States. The American Academy of Family Physicians is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Caucus’ work to advance this important national dialogue about improving maternal outcomes for women of color. - Dr. Gary LeRoy, President, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) 

Illinois hospitals and health systems applaud Rep. Underwood for her outstanding leadership in working to address increased maternal mortality rates among minority women in Illinois and around the nation. Through her work as Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and introduction of the Momnibus legislation, Rep. Underwood has meaningfully advanced our shared goal of ensuring all moms and babies have access to high-quality and safe care. - A.J. Wilhelmi, President & CEO, Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA)

Northwestern’s Center for Health Equity Transformation is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because American mothers are dying at alarming rates with significant racial disparities. Many of these deaths are preventable by addressing the underlying determinants that drive health inequities such as discrimination, racism, and access to stable housing, transportation, healthy food, and other resources. - Dr. Melissa Simon, Faculty Director, Northwestern University’s Center for Health Equity Transformation

Congratulations to the Black Maternal Health Caucus and its bold leaders, Congresswoman Alma Adams and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, on the Black Maternal Health Momnibus! This is a historic moment and we should celebrate the progress we've made to get here and the progress we will make through this important legislation. I am pleased to support the Caucus and their courageous work to save lives and promote the best health outcomes for Black moms. - Elizabeth Dawes Gay, MPH - Founder, Sisu Consulting and Co-Founder, Black Mamas Matter Alliance

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus is an epic shift in the way we engage with community, institutions, and policy makers. It is a pivotal moment in our country: at times of uncertainty, steps are being made to right the wrongs of the past concerning how Black and Brown people are treated within our healthcare systems and the policies created to enhance their well being. - Chanel Porchia-Albert, Founder and Executive Director, Ancient Song Doula Services

The National Birth Equity Collaborative is honored to be able to support bills that explicitly address the root causes of racism, classism and gender oppression to our US Maternal Health Crisis. The Black Maternal Health Caucus has been an invaluable leader in ensuring all Birthing people are given the opportunity to thrive and not just survive childbirth. - Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, Founder and President, National Birth Equity Collaborative

Mamatoto Village is proud to support the nine bills represented in the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. This legislation articulates a clear investment in the leadership, wellbeing, and care of Black Women in the United States and goes the distance to address the intersectional complexities of this problem, offering pathways to tangible and sustainable solutions. - Aza Nedhari, Executive Director, Mamatoto Village

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) strongly supports the efforts of the Black Maternal Health Caucus to improve health outcomes for Black women in the United States. SMFM supports the Black Maternal Health Momnibus package and looks forward to continuing our work with the Caucus to promote and advance robust policies aimed at optimizing maternal health,” said Judette Louis, MD, MPH, SMFM President. - Judette Louis, MD, MPH, President, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The Preeclampsia Foundation supports the Momnibus and BMHC efforts, which align with our priority to address significant racial and ethnic disparities in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.   We appreciate the BMHC’s focus on incorporating the patient voice and lived experience to truly address maternal morbidity and mortality. - Eleni Tsigas, Chief Executive Officer, Preeclampsia Foundation 

The Center for American Progress is proud to support the Momnibus. The maternal health crisis disproportionately harming Black and Native women has persisted for decades and there are multiple underlying causes. As such, it will take a robust, multifaceted response to address the problem. The Momnibus is a step toward achieving health equity. – Jamille Fields Allsbrook, Director of Women’s Health & Rights, Center for American Progress.

Families USA is pleased to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, a package of nine new bills that will help address the maternal health crisis in America. Moms in the U.S. are dying at the highest rate of any developed country in the world, and the issue is even more stark for black mothers who die at 3 to 4 times the rate of their white counterparts. This package will address the gaps in existing legislation to address causes of the health crisis, including investing in the social determents of health that influence maternal health outcomes; focusing funding and research on underserved populations such as women veterans and incarcerated women; elevating community based programs; expanding new payment models; and improving maternal mental health and substance use disorder treatment. We thank Rep. Underwood, Rep. Adams, and Sen. Harris for their leadership on this issue, and look forward to working with all of the sponsors to further this critical legislation. - Kelly Murphy, Director of Early Childhood Initiatives, Families USA

The U.S. is at a moment where addressing the maternal health crisis has never been more urgent. Every Mother Counts commends the Black Maternal Health Caucus for tackling this issue head on.  From fighting racial disparities to growing the perinatal workforce, the BMCH Momnibus is a critical force in addressing all dimensions of Black maternal health. - Christy Turlington Burns, Founder, Every Mother Counts

MomsRising is excited to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because it is a big step forward in addressing many aspects of our nation's ongoing maternal health crisis, with a crucial focus on the devastating racial disparities that Black women experience. With this bill packet, we move closer to ensuring that everyone who gives birth in the U.S. has access to a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth, with the opportunity to watch their child grow and thrive alongside them. - S. Nadia Hussain, Campaign Director, MomsRising

America’s hospitals and health systems applaud Representative Lauren Underwood  for her thoughtful leadership on improving maternal health through these important bills, collectively known as the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.  These innovative proposals to address workforce challenges, the social determinants of health, behavioral health, cultural competency, and the unique needs of underserved communities, would promote optimal maternal health for all women. The proposals would be particularly beneficial to women of color, who experience disproportionate rates of mortality and morbidity. The American Hospital Association stands ready to work with Representative Underwood and her colleagues to advance these important and timely measures. - American Hospital Association

In the fight to ensure children have the best chance at reaching their full potential, Children’s Health Fund strongly supports the Black Maternal Health Momnibus bill. In many of the programs we support across the country, the health of the mother AND child is at the core of building healthy communities, guided by our mission to break down access barriers to high-quality healthcare. We know that to eliminate maternal health disparities among black women, we must address the systemic inequities that disproportionately impact them, and this bill is an amazing first step in that direction. - Children’s Health Fund

The Shades of Blue Project is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. Providing a quality standard of care for black women and their maternal and mental health should not be optional; it should be mandatory. - Kay Matthews, Founder, Shades of Blue Project

Reps. Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood have demonstrated true leadership in forming the Black Maternal Health Caucus and putting forth a slate of actionable proposals to tackle persistent racial inequities in maternal outcomes. The numbers do not lie: black women do not get the care they deserve. As an early point-of-contact that provides crucial nutrition and breastfeeding support, WIC is a key partner in reducing obstacles to black women’s health and wellbeing. The National WIC Association supports this package’s comprehensive approach as we all work to ensure safe pregnancies and positive birth outcomes for black women. - Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO, National WIC Association

DONA International is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus as it addresses critical maternal health issues and is an essential step toward addressing racial inequities that disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous people in America. The Momnibus also takes important strides to incorporate doulas into maternal health care systems. - DONA International

American Association of Birth Centers wholeheartedly supports the Momnibus Bill Package because in the search for answers to improve the health of all mothers, these bills focus on solutions-- increasing the workforce, access and equity. - Amy Johnson Grass, CPM, ND, President, American Association of Birth Centers (AABC)

As an evidence-based community health program that is focused on improving health disparities, Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020. NFP is very concerned about the high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in the U.S., and is committed to doing our part to address this issue. This package of legislation takes critical steps to improve maternal health outcomes, particularly in communities of color, and makes smart investments in the healthcare workforce. It also builds on other important maternal health legislation like the Healthy MOMS Act of 2019 and the Home Visiting to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Act. We commend the Black Maternal Health Caucus for their efforts to end preventable maternal deaths and improve outcomes for mothers. - Sarah McGee, Chief Policy and Government Affairs Officer, Nurse-Family Partnership National Service Office

Lamaze International is pleased to support the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus’ Momnibus, which would improve U.S. maternal and childbirth outcomes and reduce U.S. maternal mortality rates that disproportionately affect black women. The Momnibus would increase access to comprehensive and quality prenatal services such as evidence-based childbirth education, which empowers women to make informed birth choices, encourages parents to initiate birth-preference discussions with their care teams, and decreases rates of unnecessary birth procedures. Lamaze International applauds the Black Maternal Health Caucus for their leadership on this critical issue. - Linda Harmon, MPH, Executive Director/CEO, Lamaze International

At A Better Balance we see up close, through our work supporting pregnant women and new mothers at work, that there are myriad factors contributing to the U.S.'s maternal and infant health crisis and we need comprehensive, multifaceted solutions. The Black Maternal Health Momnibus does just that and we applaud Rep. Underwood and Rep. Adams for their leadership in addressing this crisis head on. - Dina Bakst, Co-Founder and Co-President, A Better Balance 

The African American Breastfeeding Network proudly supports every bill in the Momnibus because when we improve and protect maternal health we improve the health status of Black babies. - Dalvery Blackwell, Executive Director, African American Breastfeeding Network

Children's HealthWatch is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because both science and commonsense tell us that mothers' well-being is integrally related to children's wellbeing, especially in the earliest years of life. Ensuring that Black mothers have equitable care and support is critically important for women, for their children, and for all of our communities. - Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, Executive Director, Children's HealthWatch

The Jacobs Institute of Women's Health applauds the focus on Black Maternal Health through this Momnibus legislation. It focuses both  on identifying  the root causes of the high maternal mortality rates in black women and using every policy tool to address them.  The legislation also supports research and evaluation needed to ensure that we learn and apply what works to improve the health of every black woman across her lifespan. - Susan F. Wood, PhD, Director, Jacobs Institute of Women's Health

The Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because family planning providers have a key role to play in improving the health and lives of mothers—and because our government can and should do more to address the Black maternal health crisis in America. - Kami Geoffray, CEO, Women's Health and Family Planning Association of Texas

Our podcast is proud to support all the acts under the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because this will transform the conversation of Black Maternal from surviving to thriving and Black birth persons deserve to thrive. - Crystal Tennille Irby, Executive Producer, Dem Black Mamas Podcast

Save The Mommies is proud to support the Data to Save Moms Act, Perinatal Workforce Act, Moms MATTER Act, IMPACT to Save Moms Act, Protecting Moms Who Served Act, Kira Johnson Act, and Black Maternal Health Momnibus because I am a survivor of pregnancy heart failure (Peripartum Cardiomyopathy) and now an advocate to save other women from PPCM and other maternal mortality causes which is desperately needed by everyone in this country. No woman should have to worry if her and her child will survive the birthing process or postpartum period due to the clear lack of education and awareness among medical professionals and the public. Insurance companies also need to stop denying preventive tests and tools necessary to make sure both mom and baby are healthy. Preventive care is vitally important and should in no way be removed from any woman's health care coverage. The maternal care in these United States is both shameful and terrifying, as we hear on a daily basis the cries and fears of women who just had a near miss event from birthing her child. - DeAnna Stewart, President & Founder, Save The Mommies

Sésé Doula Services is in support of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus particularly for its recognition of the primary importance of uplifting and supporting the work and efforts led by Black leadership within our communities to end maternal mortality and morbidity. - Nicole JeanBaptiste, Founder, Sésé Doula Services

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus includes critical steps that must be taken to address the crisis of Black maternal mortality in the United States. Everyone - regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code or their income – deserves equitable systems of support to achieve reproductive well-being, including the ability to have healthy outcomes for themselves and for their children. Power to Decide commends Representatives Underwood and Adams and the entire Black Maternal Health Caucus for the introduction of this legislation and their tireless work to improve the reproductive well-being of Black women. - Ginny Ehrlich, CEO, Power to Decide

Atlanta Doula Collective is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because Black women specifically in Atlanta have the highest maternal mortality rate and this comprehensive bill intends to meet the needs of the community we service most. - Sekesa Berry, Atlanta Doula Collective

Our organization Majaica, LLC, with its initiative Save 100 Babies, is proud to support the  Black Maternal Health Momnibus because it represents the most  comprehensive approach, to date, for addressing the crisis of black maternal deaths in this country. To think that any woman, in this time, dies needlessly as the result of childbirth is unconscionable. The disproportionately higher maternal death rates for African American women, 3-4 times that of White women, is deplorable and requires the efforts of all sectors  responding to the physical, mental, and determinant needs of African American women as essential for reaching the goal of  healthy, equitable births for all women. - Dr. Fleda M. Jackson, Majaica, LLC & Save 100 Babies

MS Black Women’s Roundtable is proud to support the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because specific populations facing unique risks in childbirth need greater investment. Black moms and their babies deserve to live their best lives and this legislation provides that opportunity. - Cassandra Welchlin, State Director and Co-Convener, MS Black Women’s Roundtable

The Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice wholeheartedly supports the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. Indiana has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality. A Hoosier mom is more likely to die in childbirth than in the Gaza strip or Iraq, especially an African American mom. Health disparities for citizens in a developed nation, as the US, are not just unjust, they are untenable. - The Indiana Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

The Association of Black Cardiologists offers its support of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus and applauds Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams for tackling startlingly high maternal mortality rates in the United States. The maternal death rate for black women in the United States is 2 to 3 times that of white women. The Momnibus is the beginning of a holistic approach to making childbirth safer in America.  African American women experience higher rates of preventable cardiovascular diseases and chronic health conditions including diabetes, hypertension and heart failure. The aforementioned risk factors can influence both maternal and infant health outcomes. Early recognition of high-risk individuals during pregnancy is a key preventative component that can obviate the development of chronic disease and should be a critical focus of any legislative effort. Behavioral therapy for postpartum depression may need emphasis. Diverse and supporting care teams, such as maternal heart teams, have the potential to improve health care outcomes across the entire continuum of preconception, prenatal and postpartum care and should be a focal point of new payment and delivery models. — John Fontaine, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.C., F.H.R.S., President, Association of Black Cardiologists

Black Mamas ATX wholeheartedly supports the Black Maternal Health Momnibus. Black women deserve to not just survive but thrive before, during and after childbirth. It’s time that America shows up for Black mothers. - Nakeenya Wilson, Executive Director, Black Mamas Community Collective

Mothering Justice stands in support of the Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus because no woman should have to endure the joy and pain of labor and delivery in chains, diets devoid of essential nutrients during pregnancy and culturally insensitive care. Serving time within our flawed justice system does not and should not equate to pregnancies and deliveries absent dignity for mom and baby. - Eboni Taylor, Michigan Executive Director, Mothering Justice

The Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA) proudly supports the Black Maternal Health Momnibus.  We thank Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, Congresswoman Alma Adams, Senator Kamala Harris, and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus for their eff,orts in bringing these groundbreaking and critical bills forward. Our CAPPA Vision is to imagine a better world and then strive to make that world a reality. We wholeheartedly agree that "the time to end preventable maternal mortality and close racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes is long overdue." - Jill Reiter, CEO, Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA)