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

WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion with Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12), 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. Click 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."

"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 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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