Congressman Dan Goldman Fights to Improve Black Maternal Health Care Outcomes

Black Women Three Times More Likely to Die From Pregnancy Complications 
 
Pregnancy Related Deaths Increased 80 Percent in Three Years 
 
Package of Legislation Will Address Growing Maternal Health Crisis

 
Washington D.C. - Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) this week joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14), along with the Black Maternal Health Caucus in introducing the ‘Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.’ Currently, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country. The ‘Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act’ includes twelve individual bills that together will comprehensively address the maternal mortality crisis in the United States, including the significant racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes.  
  
“Black women are disproportionately impacted by the growing maternal health care crisis,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Systemic inequities create barriers to black women seeking care, and the care they do receive is too often inadequate. This National Women’s Health Week, I am committed to elevating the voices of Black women in the fight for equal health care access and treatment to close the racial disparities in maternal health.” 
  
The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act would extend the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) eligibility periods from 6 to 24 months for the postpartum period and from 12 to 24 months for the breastfeeding period. This extension will ensure that moms and newborns have their nutritional needs met, improving maternal and child health outcomes and advancing birth equity across the United States. 
 
The Act would also implement local initiatives to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, focusing on pregnant and postpartum individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups as well as provide funding for community-based organizations and other local entities.  
 
This legislation also includes funding for grant programs to implement trainings on bias, racism, and discrimination and promote respectful, trauma-informed maternity care. It would also require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide guidance on trainings that would include a focus on anti-racism and culturally competent care to promote better outcomes for moms, especially in communities of color. 
 
This Act would help prevent pregnancy-related deaths and help address the driving causes of this crisis and to save moms’ lives. 
  
Last month, Congressman Goldman cosponsored the Black Maternal Health Week 2023 Resolution to raise awareness of the Black maternal health crisis.

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