Black Maternal Health Caucus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Black Maternal Health Caucus
|
|
|---|---|
| Founded | April 9, 2019 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Political position | Multi-partisan congressional caucus (Mission: "The Black Maternal Health Caucus aims to raise awareness within Congress to establish Black maternal health as a national priority, and explore and advocate for effective, evidence-based, culturally-competent policies and best practices for health outcomes for Black mothers." |
| Seats in the House |
75 / 435
|
| Seats in the Senate |
0 / 100
|
The Black Maternal Health Caucus is a special group of lawmakers in the United States Congress. Most of its members are African-American. This group works together to improve the health and safety of Black mothers and babies.
Congresswomen Alma Adams from North Carolina and Lauren Underwood from Illinois started the caucus in April 2019. They are currently the main leaders of the group.
Contents
What is the Black Maternal Health Caucus?
A caucus is like a club for members of Congress. They join together because they care about a specific topic. The Black Maternal Health Caucus focuses on making sure Black mothers get the best healthcare possible. Their goal is to make Black maternal health a top concern for the whole country. They also look for the best ways to help Black mothers and their families.
Why Was the Caucus Formed?
The Black Maternal Health Caucus was created to make healthcare better for Black mothers. Its founders pointed out that the United States has a higher rate of mothers facing serious health problems or even death during childbirth compared to many other developed countries.
For every 100,000 live births, about 18 mothers face severe health issues or death in the U.S. This number is even higher for Black women, with about 40 mothers per 100,000 live births. The caucus wants to change these numbers and make sure all mothers are safe and healthy.
Early Efforts and Support
Soon after the caucus started, Senator Kamala Harris supported a bill called the Maternal CARE Act. This bill aimed to reduce health problems for mothers. It would help by training healthcare workers to avoid unfair treatment based on race.
As of 2019, 75 members of the United States House of Representatives had joined the caucus. Important leaders like Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer also showed their support.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States showed how healthcare differences affected different groups. Many Black women who needed hospital care during the pandemic faced serious health challenges more often than other groups. This made the caucus's work even more important.
Important Laws and Efforts
In 2021, a new version of a bill called the Momnibus was introduced. Members of the House of Representatives who supported this bill included Sheila Jackson Lee, Nikema Williams, and Jamie Raskin.
The word "Momnibus" is a fun way to say "omnibus." An omnibus bill is a single large bill that includes many different topics or smaller bills.
The Momnibus Package
In March 2020, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood introduced the Momnibus Package. This package of bills would ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to share information about COVID-19 and pregnancy. This information would be separated by race and ethnicity. This helps lawmakers understand how health issues affect different communities.
See also
- Black maternal mortality in the United States
- African Americans in the United States Congress
