Sen. Booker, Reps. Adams & Underwood Introduce Black Maternal Health Week Resolution

22 Co-sponsors in the Senate and over 47 in the House join resolution to raise national awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) introduced a resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, “to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.” Black Maternal Health Week is observed from April 11 through April 17. The legislation has 22 co-sponsors in the Senate and over 47 in the House.  

“As it stands, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of all developed nations, a crisis that puts Black birthing people especially at risk,” said Senator Booker. “By taking meaningful steps to address the disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes, we can save lives. That is why I am incredibly proud to be working alongside Representatives Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood in introducing the 2021 Black Maternal Health Week resolution recognizing the week of April 11 to April 17 as Black Maternal Health Week and compelling us to act to confront this crisis that is killing American mothers.”

“Our yearly Black Maternal Health Week resolution says, unequivocally, that Black Moms matter,” said Congresswoman Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen all too clearly the racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Black Americans were one of the hardest hit communities during this pandemic, and Black and Hispanic mothers accounted for a majority of COVID-19 cases among pregnant women in the United States. That is why it is so important for us to raise awareness of Black Maternal Health Week and the maternal mortality and morbidity epidemic Black mothers face, and urge our Congressional and state leaders to take action on one of the greatest public health crises of our time.”

“I am proud to join Congresswoman Adams, Senator Booker, and Black Maternal Health Caucus leaders to mark the beginning of Black Maternal Health Week 2021. I am grateful for the leadership of Angela Doyinsola Aina and the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) for their vision to establish Black Maternal Health Week for the first time four years ago. Since then, we’ve made great progress together on behalf of Black mothers across the United States. I look forward to working with BMMA, my colleagues in the Black Maternal Health Caucus, and Black maternal health champions across the country to save lives, end disparities, and achieve true equity and justice for all,” said Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14).

Co-founding Executive Director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Angela Doyinsola Aina, said, “We are so excited to have the support of Representative Adams, Representative Underwood, and Senator Booker for the introduction of this year’s Black Maternal Health Week Resolution. Since 2018, each year this resolution helps to grow awareness of the experience Black birthing people face before, during, and after birth. The staggering statistics of maternal mortality and morbidity, of which Black women experience among the highest in the nation are still the reality. During this week, we take time to remember the Black women lost due to pregnancy-related and associated complications, yet also uplift the leaders and Black-led organizations working to change future outcomes for Black Mamas and their babies.”

In addition to Booker, the resolution is cosponsored Senators by Feinstein (D-CA), Duckworth (D-IL), Blumenthal (D-CT), Markey (D-MA), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Stabenow (D-MI), Durbin (D-IL), Menendez (D-NJ), Padilla (D-CA), Merkley (D-OR), Brown (D-OH), Warnock (D-GA), Peters (D-MI), Baldwin (D-WI), Smith (D-MN), Sanders (I-VT), Kaine (D-VA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Bennet (D-CO), Klobuchar (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), and Rosen (D-NV).

The resolution is endorsed by over 120 organization, including Black Mamas Matter Alliance, National Birth Equity Collaborative, Center for Reproductive Rights, March of Dimes, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, American Public Health Association, National Urban League, and Ancient Song Doula Services. You can find the full list of endorsing organizations here.

A copy of the resolution can be viewed here.