Rep. Kelly announces WELLS Act, a new maternal health bill, in honor of Mercedes Wells
November 25, 2025
Mercedes Wells gave birth on the side of the road after being discharged from an Indiana hospital
DOLTON, ILL. – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) announced plans to introduce new maternal health legislation with Mercedes Wells, a constituent who was forced to give birth in her truck after being discharged from a hospital. The WELLS Act, named in honor of Mercedes, will urge hospitals and birthing centers to develop and implement a safe discharge plan.
“Mercedes’s courage to speak out about her experience and advocate for change propelled me to introduce the WELLS Act to ensure no other mother goes through the same pain,” said Rep. Kelly, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust. “Mercedes has given birth three times before and was telling the nurse she was in active labor, but far too often, Black women’s pain is ignored, dismissed, and discharged. This cannot continue to happen. My legislation builds on my comprehensive CARE for Moms Act and aims to correct our healthcare system, so all Black women receive the care they need and deserve.”
Last week, Mercedes was discharged from Franciscan Health Crown Point in Indiana while in active labor. She said a doctor never treated her before a nurse discharged her, not even giving her husband Leon Wells the chance to warm up the truck. Minutes later, as she and Leon were driving to the closest hospital, Mercedes gave birth to her fourth child.
"I'll live with this experience for the rest of my life,” said Mercedes. “No expecting mother should be visited by this kind of horror. I'm ready to Join Congresswoman Kelly in advocating for women like me. I'm ready to speak up and speak out so that one day, substandard medical care is a thing of the past.”
Leon pulled over to the side of the road to deliver his daughter with no medical training, knowledge, or proper equipment.
"My wife deserved better,” said Leon. “My daughter deserved better. Congresswoman Kelly gives me hope that better is achievable.”
"Congresswoman Kelly is a leader in this area so it's no surprise that she's taking this situation very seriously,” Cannon Lambert, Sr., the family’s lawyer, said.
Rep. Kelly plans to introduce the WELLS Act, or the Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety Act, once the House is back in session after Thanksgiving.
The WELLS Act urges any hospital that provides obstetric, emergency, or labor and delivery services to develop and implement a Safe Discharge Labor Plan. The plan, at minimum, must include a clinical justification for discharge, assessment of travel distance, an identified back-up hospital or birthing facility, verification of reliable transportation, and documentation of patient understanding. The bill also includes racial bias training for healthcare professionals, building on Rep. Kelly’s Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, passed in 2022.
Today, Rep. Kelly also reintroduced her CARE for Moms Act, a comprehensive package that supports the maternal health workforce, promotes access to prenatal and postpartum care, and provides the resources that mothers and babies need to thrive.