Political Quotes

“H.R. 4995 is one that passed the House from Representative Engel to help address maternal health gaps and disparities in rural communities. The bill would provide grants at HHS to networks of healthcare providers and academic partners to expand obstetric capacity and improve trainings in underserved rural areas. The trainings would help to address implicit bias, which--more so than economic status, health status, or education level--can contribute to health negative outcomes for moms and their babies. Due to lack of specialists and geographic gaps, maternal health outcomes in rural Illinois are worse than in urban areas. So when it comes to responding to and tackling the urgent health challenges of the moment, alongside addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, these bills can help close the disparities and gaps that exist in health care in America. H.R. 4996, sponsored by Congresswoman Robin Kelly from Illinois, passed the House in September. It closely mirrors a provision in legislation I have introduced in the Senate, the MOMMA Act. This critical legislation addresses our Nation's unconscionable disparities in maternal and infant mortality by ensuring mothers can maintain access to care and prevent pregnancy-related complications. The U.S. is 1 of only 13 countries in the world where the maternal mortality rate is worse now than it was 25 years ago.…”