Trone Supports Black Maternal Health, Co-Sponsors Resolution to Designate This Week as “Black Maternal Health Week”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2023
Contact: Sasha Galbreath, Sasha.Galbreath@mail.house.gov
Trone Supports Black Maternal Health, Co-Sponsors Resolution to Designate This Week as “Black Maternal Health Week”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman David Trone (MD-06), member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, alongside Congresswomen Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) in the House, as well as Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in the Senate, supported companion resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, “to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the urgent importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.” Last year, Trone hosted a discussion with Rep. Underwood on health care inequities in Black communities, including those related to Black maternal health.
Black Maternal Health Week is observed from April 11 through April 17.
Black women during pregnancy face a maternal mortality rate three times that of their white counterparts due to historic racial inequities in maternal health care experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these inequities, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that the maternal mortality rate for Black women has increased by 26% since the pandemic began. In order to reverse these alarming trends, the resolution calls on Congress to “support and encourage policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity.”
“We cannot and will not tolerate these horrifying statistics as an accepted truth. The responsibility falls on us – our nation’s leaders – to take action and help save lives,” said Congressman Trone, member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “Working together in Congress, we will continue to right the historic wrongs of health care inequities in communities of color. I’m in this fight alongside my colleagues, Congresswomen Underwood and Adams, to ensure every American has access to affordable, high-quality health care – no matter what.”
A copy of the House resolution is available here.
“During Black Maternal Health Week we recognize maternal health disparities and recommit to creating a world where maternal justice and equality are a reality,” said Congresswoman Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “In 2018, I was honored to introduce the first Congressional resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week with then-Senator Kamala Harris and Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In 2019, I asked the youngest Black woman elected to Congress, Lauren Underwood, if she wanted to launch a Congressional Caucus focused on Black maternal health. So, we launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus, which now boasts 115 bipartisan Members of Congress. In 2020, we introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act – a package of 12 bills to comprehensively address existing gaps in policy solutions to the maternal health crisis. The bill was crafted with Black women, by Black women and for Black women. Last Congress, we re-introduced the Momnibus, and passed the first bill from the package. I’m so excited to continue this work in this Congress, because Black mamas can’t wait.”
“Our country’s Black maternal health crisis demands urgent action,” said Congresswoman Underwood, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “In 2019, I co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus with Congresswoman Alma Adams to respond to this crisis and advance evidence-based solutions that will save lives and end disparities. I’m thrilled to continue this work by introducing this resolution with Congresswoman Adams to recognize Black Maternal Health Week 2023 and I am grateful to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance for their leadership in establishing this critical week of awareness and action. We must continue to elevate Black maternal health as a national priority and pass the entire Momnibus.”
“The US maternal mortality crisis, especially among Black Americans, requires urgent attention and action,” said Senator Booker. “As the richest country in the world, it is a travesty that our nation continues to top the maternal mortality rate among its peer countries. We must do more to address this crisis and find meaningful solutions that will end the disparities in care that Black people face when giving birth. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this resolution that calls on Congress to improve Black maternal health by providing economic support, promoting community-driven solutions to better understand the causes of maternal death and complications from birth, and increasing access to quality, affordable health care for Black communities.”
A full list of organizations supporting the resolution can be found here.
Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Appropriations, Budget, and Joint Economic Committees in the 118th Congress. In Congress, Trone is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the mental health and addiction crises, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.
Follow Congressman Trone at @RepDavidTrone for updates on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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