Health Care
Across the United States, women die of pregnancy-related complications at a higher rate than in any other similarly large, wealthy country in the world. Expanding Medicaid will save the lives of women and babies and save money in our health care system. But the two states that we represent in the U.S. House of Representatives – Illinois and Florida – have taken very different approaches to this national crisis.
As of early April, around 72 percent of the people who had died from the coronavirus in Chicago were African-American. Rep. Robin Kelly, whose district includes Chicago's South Side, is working on legislation to require the federal government to collect and report racial and ethnic data associated with COVID-19.
It's time to fight because our health is on the line. For years, Congressional Republicans have been chomping at the bit to repeal the Affordable Care Act and strip 30 million Americans of the everyday security of health insurance.
If they succeed in repealing the ACA, experts estimate 43,000 Americans will die every year. Given the powerful and positive impact of the ACA in our community, a disproportionate number of these deaths will be African-Americans.
Matteson, IL – While limited data released to date show a clear and shocking trend in COVID-19 among African Americans, it is not surprising, said Congresswoman Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust during a recent conference call with young, frontline healthcare workers who provide services in high-risk communities.
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, released this statement concerning Taylor Weyeneth and his role at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP):
"As an opioid crisis rages across this country, the Trump Administration is using a spoils system to reward campaign loyalists instead of appointing real leaders with real experience to help rein in this crisis.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, released this statement regarding the MacArthur Amendment; which exempts Members of Congress from the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also called ObamaCare:
"It seems my Republican colleagues think they deserve better healthcare than American families. That's simply outrageous.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, unveiled the MOMMA Act to reverse America's rising maternal mortality rate.
"For decades, the global rate of women dying from, during and after childbirth has been steadily declining. At the same time, the number of American mothers dying has been increasing," said Congresswoman Kelly. "Hundreds of American mothers are dying; it's time for Congress to do something about it."