In 2020, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) along with then California senator Kamala Harris introduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus, a series of nine bills that took racial disparities out of the maternal health outcomes, funded communty-based maternal health organizations, improved data collection, and invested in digital health tools among other pertinent issues. While the legislation didn’t gain much traction, legislators believe it could get passed in a Democratic-led Congress.

This week, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Actof 2021 was reintroduced by members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus to include three new, individual bills for Covid-19, maternal vaccines, and climate change bringing the Act to 12 overall bills to reduce black maternal mortality.

The newly-included bills are the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2020 introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) looks to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on pregnancies. The Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, led by Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) & Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) will address climate change-related risks on pregnancies, and the Maternal Vaccination Act, led by Representative Terri A. Sewell (AL-07) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), provides funding for programs to increase maternal vaccination rates, protecting both new moms and their babies.

The Momnibus Act is supported by over 190 organizations and is co-sponsored by16 senators, and several members of the House of Representatives.

Learn more at https://blackmaternalhealthcaucus-underwood.house.gov.