As reported on The Hill, Representatives Lauren Underwood from Illinois and Alma Adams from North Carolina have formed the Black Maternal Health Caucus. The goals are to bring awareness and action to the issue of the high number of black women who die due to pregnancy-related causes in the U.S.:
The U.S. has a higher rate of maternal deaths than any other developed country, with 26.4 deaths per 100,000 births. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60 percent of these fatalities can be prevented. Black women are four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
Several Maryland representatives have joined or expressed interest in the Caucus’ work:
It is incredibly distressing that Black mothers are more likely than women of other races to die of preventable, pregnancy-related complications.
I am proud to join the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
We must do everything in our power to prevent maternal deaths.#BMHCaucus
— Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) April 9, 2019
House Dems, led by @RepAdams & @RepUnderwood, launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus today. I’m proud to support the #BMHCaucus, which will address the maternal health crisis impacting African American families across the country, including in #MD05. #BlackMaternalHealthWeek
— Steny Hoyer (@LeaderHoyer) April 9, 2019
Read The Hill to learn more.
