Black Maternal Health Caucus Celebrates Historic Passage of ‘Momnibus’ in Build Back Better Act

WASHINGTON – Today, the Black Maternal Health Caucus, led by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12) celebrated the inclusion of every eligible provision of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R. 959) in the Build Back Better Act, which passed the House of Representatives. The Momnibus, a sweeping package of 12 bills to end the U.S. maternal health crisis, was introduced in February 2021 by Underwood, Adams, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and other members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. Every eligible provision of the Momnibus was included in the Build Back Better Act, along with a permanent expansion of yearlong postpartum Medicaid coverage in every state—the largest investment in American history to eliminate preventable maternal mortality, end racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes, and advance birth equity across the country.

"I'm proud to see my Momnibus legislation pass the House through the Build Back Better Act. Combined with the critical expansion of yearlong postpartum Medicaid coverage, this will be the largest investment in American history to save moms' lives and advance birth equity and justice across the country," said Rep. Underwood. "I am grateful to President Biden and Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer, and Committee Chairs for their support of my Momnibus legislation and their leadership to address our nation's maternal health crisis. We need to pass the Build Back Better Act in the Senate immediately and get it to the President's desk to be signed into law: moms can't wait."

"As the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I'm proud to say the Build Back Better Act we passed includes all eligible provisions of our Momnibus legislation and permanently expands yearlong postpartum Medicaid and CHIP coverage in every state," said Congresswoman Alma Adams, co-founder, and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. "The maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in this country is unacceptable, but the Build Back Better Act gets us closer to a world where every parent who enters the maternity ward and every child born in America makes it home safe. I especially want to thank my co-chair, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood, our co-lead on the Momnibus, Senator Cory Booker, and our original co-lead on the Momnibus, Vice President Kamala Harris, for their tireless leadership for mothers everywhere."

"With the inclusion of the Momnibus, the Build Back Better Act will save lives. I urge our colleagues in the Senate to support the Build Back Better Act with the Momnibus included. Black mamas can't wait! "concluded Adams.

The United States has the highest rate of pregnancy-related mortality among high-income countries, and the only rate that is rising. Maternal mortality rates for Black and Native Americans are 2-4 times higher than rates for white Americans, and Hispanic and AAPI people also experience disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.

The Build Back Better Act makes the largest investments in American historyto save moms' lives, end racial and ethnic maternal health disparities, and advance birth equity across the United States, including every eligible provision of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and permanent yearlong postpartum Medicaid coverage.

The Build Back Better Act:

• Provides $175 million in funding for local entities to address social determinants of maternal health like housing, nutrition, and environmental conditions – including a minimum of $75 million exclusively for community-based organizations working to promote maternal health equity.
• Provides $295 million to grow and diversify the perinatal health workforce, including nurses, midwives, physicians, doulas, and maternal mental and behavioral health professionals – including $50 million specifically for doulas.
• Provides $100 million for maternal mental health equity grant programs.

• Provides $85 million to address the impacts of climate change-related maternal and infant health risks through health professional schools.
• Provides $50 million to advancematernal health researchat Minority-Serving Institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and AAPISIs.
• Provides $50 million to promote representative community engagement in Maternal Mortality Review Committees.
• Provides $210 million to strengthenfederal maternal health programs like the CDC's Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program, Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM), Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
• Provides $60 million to expand access to maternal health equitydigital tools.

• Provides $50 million for bias trainings among health care professionals.

The Build Back Better Act also includes a mandatory, permanent expansion of yearlong postpartum Medicaid & CHIP coverage in every state with full state plan benefits throughout pregnancy and the yearlong postpartum period, as well as an investment in maternal health homes under Medicaid to provide coordinated maternity care.

The Black Maternal Health Caucus (BMHC) was founded in April 2019 by Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). The BMHC is organized around the goals of elevating the Black maternal health crisis within Congress and advancing policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end disparities. The BMHC is one of the largest bipartisan caucuses in Congress with more than 115 members. More information can be found at @BMHCaucus on Twitter and bmhc-underwood.house.gov.

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