ICYMI: Senators Emphasize Bipartisan Commitment to Comprehensively Address Maternal Health Crisis in Senate HELP Hearing
WASHINGTON D.C. – In a hearing on May 2nd, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) highlighted the ongoing maternal health crisis and the critical need to address the severe shortage of minority health care professionals. The hearing brought to light the alarming statistics surrounding maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States, and Senators emphasized their bipartisan commitment to comprehensively addressing the maternal health crisis.
HELP Committee Ranking Member Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician, spoke at length about the harmful impacts of underrepresentation among health care professionals on maternal health outcomes. HELP Committee Chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders emphasized the importance of passing the Momnibus, comprehensive legislation that will end our nation’s maternal health crisis.
Senator Laphonza Butler, a champion for maternal health issues since her arrival in the Senate, advocated for passage of the Momnibus in her testimony, “I implore this committee to advance the Black Maternal Health Momnibus bill led by Senator Booker,” Butler said. “The Momnibus is comprised of 13 individual bills that would combat the Black maternal health crisis and make historic investments to comprehensively address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the United States. This legislation is not just about the life and death of Black women. It’s enactment will improve birthing outcomes for all women.”
In written testimony, Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Lauren Underwood said, "For many of us, this crisis isn’t just about data – it’s personal. Too many friends and families have lost loved ones unnecessarily to this devastating crisis. As I have done this work, so many people have shared their own stories with me – losses and near misses, tragedies that could have been prevented. The Momnibus is not a band-aid to our nation’s maternal health crisis. It is a real, comprehensive solution and Congress should pass it now.”
Key points from the hearing include:
Maternal mortality crisis: The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed country in the world, with significant and worsening disparities. The maternal death rate is 89% higher than before the pandemic, and 80% of those deaths are preventable.
Underrepresentation in health care: While studies show that increasing the number of physicians who are racial and ethnic minorities reduces racial disparities in health outcomes, only 5% of all doctors are Black, and representation of other minority groups among health care professionals is significantly low.
Comprehensive federal legislation: Sen. Sanders called for substantial legislative action: "We must increase class sizes in historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), pass the Momnibus, and increase funding for programs supporting women, infants, and children.”
The full hearing can be watched here. A fact sheet and individual summaries for all Momnibus bills can be found here.