Statement from Rep. Kelly Responding to Report of Increasing Maternal Mortality Rates

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) issued a statement this morning in response to the National Center for Health Statistics’ finding that maternal mortality rates had increased by nearly 60% between 2019 and 2021. Maternal death rates were nearly three times higher for Black mothers than their white counterparts. Rep. Kelly said the following:

“This is a five-alarm fire for our moms and babies. The data released by the National Center for Health Statistics should be a wake-up call to every leader in this country that the maternal mortality crisis is real, and it is getting worse.

“This crisis continues to be much worse for Black, Indigenous, and Latina women who die at much higher rates than their white counterparts. Black and Brown moms have been disproportionately impacted by the maternal health crisis for years and the disparate health outcomes from Covid-19 for racial minorities have made these disparities even more dire.

“We must also acknowledge that, because of the Dobbs decision, more women and girls will be forced to give birth, and we will see more women and girls dying.

“I was proud to lead the passage of so many groundbreaking maternal health efforts last Congress, but we need to do more. Congress must pass the MOMMAs Act in its entirety to give our moms a chance to live full, healthy lives and build their families on their own terms.

“Saving lives is not optional. I will continue to fight for mothers and babies on the floor of Congress because our families deserve nothing less. Maternal mortality is an urgent crisis, we must start treating it like one.”

Rep. Kelly has been a champion for maternal health care in Congress, prioritizing the issue in her role as CBC Health Braintrust Chair. Rep. Kelly led the passage of the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act and the permanent extension of the postpartum Medicaid coverage option from 60 days to a full year. Her flagship legislation, the MOMMAs Act, is a comprehensive package providing holistic solutions to the maternal mortality crisis.

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