Dem lawmakers form Black Maternal Health Caucus

Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.) announced Tuesday morning that they have created a Black Maternal Health Caucus. 

At least 57 members of Congress had joined the caucus Tuesday afternoon, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.), according to Underwood’s office.

{mosads}Underwood said the high maternal death rate among black women in the U.S. prompted her to co-found the caucus. 

“Our caucus will elevate black maternal health as a national priority and explore and advocate for effective, evidence-based, culturally competent policies and best practices for improving black maternal health,” Underwood said at a press conference.

Though it spends the most $, the US has the worst maternal death rate in the developed world. Rate is nearly 4x worse for black women than white women, even adjusted for education & income. I’m lauching the Black Maternal Health Caucus w/@RepAdams to elevate this important issue. pic.twitter.com/iWUHxx8viV

— Lauren Underwood (@RepUnderwood) April 8, 2019

Adams tweeted that she was “thrilled” to help introduce the caucus.  

Thrilled to be joined by our colleagues & @LeaderHoyer to introduce the Black Maternal Health Caucus! #BlackMamasMatter #BlackMaternalHealthWeek pic.twitter.com/HiMA9a1nxE

— Alma S. Adams (@RepAdams) April 9, 2019

We have a black maternal health crisis in this country. We need to ensure equal access to pre and post natal care #ForThePeople. I look forward to launching the Black Maternal Health Caucus with @RepUnderwood on Tuesday at 8:30 at the House Triangle. pic.twitter.com/B9V0CWi6VM

— Alma S. Adams (@RepAdams) April 7, 2019 

“The facts are simple. Black women are dying of preventable, pregnancy-related complications at an alarming rate, and as Black mother and grandmother, it’s personal to me,” Adams said in a statement. “Maternal mortality disproportionately impacts Black women, and I started this caucus, so my colleagues and I can work together to find culturally-competent solutions specific to the Black community.”

Clyburn also cheered the caucus’s creation on Twitter:

The U.S. has the worst rates of maternal death than any other developed country.

For Black women, it’s even worse.

That’s why I’m proud to be a member of the new Black Maternal Health Caucus so we can work to find solutions to this important issue. #BMHW19

— James E. Clyburn (@WhipClyburn) April 9, 2019

The Hill has reached out to Underwood and Adams for additional comment. 

The U.S. has a higher rate of maternal deaths than any other developed country, with 26.4 deaths per 100,000 births. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 60 percent of these fatalities can be prevented. Black women are four times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. 

—Updated at 4:56 p.m.