Rep. Kelly: ‘Rural Mothers, Families Deserve Better Maternal Health’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act, a bipartisan bill with Reps. Young Kim (CA-40), Dan Meuser (PA-09) and Kim Schrier (WA-08), to provide critical obstetric care in rural communities. U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Katie Britt (R-AL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) also introduced companion legislation.

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to create better health outcomes for the more than 2.3 million women who live in maternity care deserts. Women living in maternity care deserts are more likely to have chronic conditions such as pre-pregnancy obesity, hypertension and diabetes.

“Every mother deserves affordable and reliable healthcare before and during pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Illinois’ Second District represents every part of our nation – urban, suburban and rural – and rural healthcare facilities with obstetric care are too often far from families,” said Rep. Kelly, co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus. “I’ve heard so many stories from constituents who have to drive hours to the nearest hospital with a delivery room. It causes stress and, sometimes, preventable complications during pregnancy and labor that have an untold number of health consequences for the mother and baby. As a leader of the Maternity Care Caucus, I am once again working together with my colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate to tackle the maternal mortality crisis and ensure mothers thrive with their babies.”

Illinois’ Second District spans south of Chicago to Danville and west to Pontiac, Illinois, covering over 4,500 farms. Iroquois County, Illinois, is a maternity care desert, meaning there is no hospital or birth center offering obstetric care and no obstetric provider. Iroquois County joins over half of counties nationwide that do not have a hospital that provides obstetric care.

“Women should be able to access quality maternal health care wherever they live,” said Rep. Kim. “Unfortunately, rural communities are often maternity care deserts, leaving moms and moms-to-be without essential care. The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act aims to ensure rural healthcare facilities are equipped with the workforce, training, and tools to meet patients’ unique needs. I am proud to help introduce this important and targeted bipartisan bill, and I will keep fighting to support women, babies, and families at all levels.”  

"Expecting mothers in rural Pennsylvania deserve nothing less than exceptional obstetric health care,” said Rep. Meuser. “This legislation aims to tackle the maternal health crisis facing our country. The introduction of targeted federal grants will equip rural health care facilities with the capacity to handle obstetric emergencies with advanced technologies and trainings. I'm pleased to co-lead this crucial bill, as it will deliver essential resources directly to rural health facilities, offering much-needed support to mothers and children.”

“As a physician and a mother who experienced a high-risk pregnancy, I know firsthand how crucial reliable access to obstetrics care is for the health and safety of pregnant women and babies. Accessible, timely care can make all the difference throughout pregnancy, particularly during labor,” said Rep. Schrier. “The Eighth District encompasses nearly 10,000 square miles, with many of my constituents living in rural areas and lacking access to nearby medical needs like obstetrics care. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to improve resources, training, and overall quality of rural obstetrics care to ensure that pregnant women receive the best possible care so that they may safely deliver healthy infants.”

The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act will support rural hospitals and prepare doctors to handle obstetric emergencies by:

Read the full text of the legislation here.