Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) introduced a resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week “to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.” Black Maternal Health Week is observed from April 11 through April 17.
The resolution underscores the disproportionate health complications suffered by Black birthing people during pregnancy who face maternal morbidities three times as often as their white counterparts due to structural racism and gender oppression in maternal health care experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these inequities, with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that the maternal mortality rate for Black women has increased by 26% since the pandemic began. In order to reverse these alarming trends, the resolution calls on Congress to “support and encourage policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity.”
“Before the pandemic, New Jersey had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country and alarming racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated barriers to equitable maternity care,” said Sen. Menendez. “I commit to working with my colleagues to ensure we finally address the racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes.”
“Our nation is experiencing a maternal mortality crisis,” said Sen. Booker. “The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of any wealthy nation, which has rapidly increased during the past years and continues to disproportionately impact Black birthing people who more often encounter the systemic inequalities of our broken health care system. To improve Black maternal health outcomes, this resolution calls on Congress to implement a comprehensive approach that provides Black communities with economic support, environmental justice provisions, and access to high-quality, affordable health care. I am proud to once again work with Representatives Adams and Underwood on this resolution to address this urgent and critical issue.”
“The Black Maternal Health field has expanded significantly since the first Black Maternal Health Week launched back in 2018. I am so proud of the work that BMMA, our partners, and collaborators have led to create a demonstrable impact on behalf of Black women and birthing people’s maternal and reproductive rights,” said Angela D. Aina, Executive Director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance. “Still, there is so much more to be done to address the startling statistics and realities facing Black expectant individuals. As we celebrate Black Maternal Health Week, and continue to champion the reproductive rights and health equity of all Black birthing people, we hope our collective efforts will create even more transformative change for generations to come.”
“March of Dimes commends Representatives Alma Adams, Lauren Underwood and Senator Cory Booker for spearheading this year’s Black Maternal Health Week Resolution and their efforts to address the alarming state of Black maternal health,” said Stacey D. Stewart, President and CEO of the March of Dimes. “In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and 50 percent more likely to have a preterm birth as compared to White women. It is past time we address the structural racism and inequities in social determinants of health that contribute so significantly to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.”
In addition to Sens. Menendez and Booker, the resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
A copy of the resolution can be found here.