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Adams, Hoyer, Brown, Underwood Host Virtual Roundtable Discussion on Black Maternal Health

April 26, 2021

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) on the status of Black maternal health in our country. The Members were joined by public health experts and representatives from women’s health and women's rights advocacy groups from Maryland.

WASHINGTON, DC– This morning, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) on the status of Black maternal health in our country. The Members were joined by public health experts and representatives from women's health and women's rights advocacy groups from Maryland.

A video of Rep. Adams' remarks is available here.

The Caucus was founded by Congresswomen Adams and Underwood, who currently serve as its Co-Chairs. Congressman Hoyer is a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Clickhereto watch the video.

"For me – like countless others who are dedicated to this effort –this issue is deeply personal,"said Congresswoman Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus."As a mother, I've always cared about Black maternal health, but my passion came into focus 15 years ago when my daughter, Jeanelle, almost became a victim of this crisis. A physician overlooked my daughter's complaints of pain in her abdomen, choosing not to listen to her needs as a Black women. Their dismissal of her pain almost cost my daughter her life, a story that is all too common. We know that there are thousands of stories like my daughter's; parents and their families dealing with these near-misses or worse, the loss of a mother or baby. Thank you to Leader Hoyer and everyone who joined us today to highlight not only the enormity of this crisis, but also the solutions that are available as long as we choose to act."

"I was proud to be joined by my colleagues, women's health experts, and advocates today for an important discussion on the current status of Black maternal health in our state," said Congressman Hoyer."The Black maternal health crisis is a serious challenge in Maryland, and too many mothers and mothers-to-be have suffered unnecessarily from pregnancy-related complications that could have otherwise been prevented. It is unacceptable that the United States, one of the wealthiest and most medically advanced countries in the world, would have the highest maternal mortality rate of any developed nation. This disparity is unfortunately driven by Black mothers, who are up to four times as likely to pass away from childbirth."

"The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed long-standing inequities in our public health infrastructure, and it is critical that we take action to end racial disparities in health outcomes, which is why I was proud to introduce a bill with Rep. Brown,the Health Enterprise Zones Act, to help eliminate these inequities."continued Congressman Hoyer."We can and must do better for Black mothers in our state and around the nation. Today's conversation was an important discussion as we work to expand access to affordable, quality health care and improve health outcomes for Black mothers and mothers-to-be. As a founding Member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I will continue to work closely with my colleagues, health experts, and advocates as we work to find solutions that adequately respond to the Black maternal health crisis. I join in thanking everyone who joined this important conversation today."

"It is unacceptable that in America, maternal mortality rates are the worst in the developed world. Like COVID-19 and so many other public health crises, for Black Americans and Black women these issues are even more dire. We need targeted, intentional action to close the racial disparities in our health care system," said Congressman Brown. "Thanks to the leadership of Leader Hoyer, Congresswoman Adams and Congresswoman Underwood, we have an opportunity to advance equity in health care and improve health outcomes for communities of color around our country."

"I was honored to join Leader Hoyer, a Founding Member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, for a critical conversation about Black maternal health in Maryland and across the United States,"said Congresswoman Underwood.We have an urgent responsibility to take bold action to save lives, end disparities, and advance true equity and justice for all our moms. I'm proud to be working with Leader Hoyer, Congresswoman Adams, and Congressman Brown to advance important legislation like my Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to comprehensively address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities," said Rep. Lauren Underwood, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

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