Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)
Black Maternal Health Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Adams led a year of advocacy for Black birthing parents
Washington, D.C. – Since co-founding the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019, Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) has been at the forefront of the fight for equitable health care for Black birthing persons. The year 2020 saw historic advances in public awareness and policy proposals, including the introduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14).
“As I’ve said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disproportionate rate of mortality and morbidity among Black women is a crisis within a crisis,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Tens of thousands of pregnant people have contracted COVID-19, the vast majority being Black and Brown birthing persons. As the pandemic rages on, the quality of maternal care has decreased as it has become harder to receive care. That’s why I am especially proud of the work we’ve done this year to bring attention to the issue of Black maternal health. In the 117th Congress, I’ll continue to work with Vice President-elect Harris and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood to ensure all women have access to high quality maternity care, no matter where they live, how much they earn, or the color of their skin. Black mamas can’t afford to wait.”
The overall maternal mortality rate in the United States rose sharply over the past three decades, and Black women are more than three times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. Furthermore, Black and Hispanic moms have been more likely to become infected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams’ advocacy over the past year included the introduction of the historic Momnibus legislation; interviews, editorials, TV and radio appearances; and a Women’s Symposium focused on Black Maternal Health during COVID-19.
Recommended Reading on the Black Maternal Health Crisis:
116th Congress Report of the Black Maternal Health Caucus
Summary: Black Maternal Health Momnibus
Congresswoman Alma Adams on Why She Co-Founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus
2020 Black Maternal Health Advocacy Timeline:
Jan. 29: NC Policy Watch: ‘It’s not fine.’ Black mothers and babies are dying in North Carolina
Feb 4: WFAE: Charlotte Physician Advocates For Black Maternal Health Crisis At SOTU Address
Feb. 5: Adams puts the focus on Black Maternal Health at the State of the Union
Feb. 12: Resolution Urging Federal Action on Black Maternal Mortality Health Crisis
Feb. 14: ESSENCE: Inside the Fight to End the Black Maternal Health Crisis
Feb. 14: PUMP for Nursing Act Introduced
March 4: The Lily: Black women are more likely to die during childbirth. These six leaders are trying to change that
March 10: Adams, Harris, Underwood Unveil Historic Momnibus Package
March 12: Charlotte Post: Momnibus’ Aim: close American Maternal health gap
March 22: Michigan Daily: The Black Maternal Health Crisis: The Beginning of an End
April 9: LA Sentinel: Congresswoman Adams Discusses Maternal Mortality Rates and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020
April 13: Rep. Alma Adams & Sen. Kamala Harris Introduce Black Maternal Health Week Resolution
April 13: ESSENCE: Black Maternal Health Week: Black Women On The Front Lines Discuss Sisterhood, Mission
April 13: Harris, 22 Senators Reintroduce Resolution Designating April 11-17 as Black Maternal Health Week
April 13: Planned Parenthood Action: Why the Fight for Black Mamas Is a Public Health Imperative
April 13: Black Maternal Health Week: Planned Parenthood Calls on Congress to Endorse The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020
April 14: Center for American Progress: Community-Based Doulas and Midwives Key to Addressing the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis
April 14: ESSENCE: We Can’t Let Up The Fight To End The Black Maternal Health Crisis, Especially Right Now
April 15: ESSENCE: Black Maternal Health Matters! 5 Issues Facing Black Mothers Today
April 16: Charlotte Talks: The Black Maternal Health Crisis
April 16: QCity Metro: Opinion | We can’t afford to lose more Black moms during childbirth
April 16: Video: Rep. Adams Holds Successful Women’s Symposium
April 16: Charlotte Post: Black maternal health matters more than ever
April 17: Rep. Alma Adams Urges Adoption of the Kira Johnson Act
April 17: LA Sentinel: Video: Rep. Adams’ Women’s Symposium on Maternal Health Breaks Attendance Record
April 17: The Root: Thanks to Black Women, There’s More Political Interest In Fixing Black Maternal Care Than Ever Before
April 18: Black Maternal Health Week in Review
May 4: Blavity: New York Woman Dies During Childbirth Days After Complaining About Hospital’s Treatment Of Minority Women
May 7: This Mother’s Day, We Advocate for Black Mothers’ Health
May 8: Rewire: How You Can Help Black Mamas this Mother’s Day
May 12: United Methodist Church: Saving Mothers’ Lives: Justice for Incarcerated Moms
May 26: North Carolina Health News: NC congresswoman tackles maternal health disparities
June 2: National WIC Association: Urgent Action is Needed to Dispel Racism and Save Black Lives
June 24: In Style: After the Pandemic, We’ll Finally Have to Address the Impossible State of Motherhood
June 24: The Hill: Help reverse devastating health disparities by supporting the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act
June 30: What to Expect: 20 Champions of Black Maternal Health
July 15: Adams, Harris support bias and anti-racism training in COVID-19 response
July 27: Brookings: To protect Black women and save America from itself, elect Black women
July 27: Adams and Underwood hosted the second annual Black Maternal Health Caucus summit
July 31: A National Reckoning: Highlights From A Conversation with Congresswoman Alma Adams
Aug. 1: Spectrum News: Addressing Racial Health Disparities
Aug. 6: Queen City Nerve: All Workers Need Paid Family and Sick Leave
Aug. 10: Vox: America is failing black moms during the pandemic
Aug. 13: Kamala Harris on successful Black Maternal Health outcomes
Aug. 15: Rep. Adams participates in the NATALsummit
Aug. 19: Rep. Adams tells her story on episode 8 of the NATAL Podcast
Sept. 3: Black Breastfeeding Week Resolution
Sept. 13: Babe: Inside the Black Maternal Health Crisis
Sept. 17: Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act Speech
Oct. 19: Medical News Today: What will the US election mean for Black-white disparities in maternal and child health?
Oct. 27: Congressional Care: Nurse Impact on Public Policy
Nov. 6: Adams and Underwood on strengthening nursing protections in the workplace
Nov. 12: Duke Medical School Ob/Gyn meets with Rep. Adams
Nov. 13: Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health: Black women’s biggest health issue is the system
Nov. 17: Shocking CDC report on COVID-19 during pregnancy
Nov. 17: ESSENCE: Pregnant women are contracting COVID-19 and dying
Nov. 20: Kira Johnson Act gains momentum in Congress
Dec. 2: Medill: New legislation addresses long-standing Black Maternal Health crisis in America
Dec. 21: Morning Consult: Federal Maternal Health Plan Falls Short for Key Lawmakers, Advocates
Adams co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019 and co-led the introduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020 in March. Over 2,000 people, including Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris and Rep. Lauren Underwood, participated in her Women’s Symposium on Black Maternal Health During COVID-19 (video).
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