I would like to thank Dr. Rucker for testifying today on the Office of National Coordinator's work to implement the 21st Century Cures Act.

The Cures Act aimed to build on the progress of the HITECH Act of 2009, but by focusing on improving interoperability, patient access to their health records, and reducing provider burden.

I'm pleased to hear ONC is undergoing a rigorous public comment process before finalizing this provision.

I am extremely disappointed that 2 years after the passage of Cures we still do not have the regulations necessary to implement these provisions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 700 women in the United States die each year due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Maternal mortality in our country has more than doubled between 1987 and 2014, from 7.2 to 18 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

I would like to submit the following letters for the record.

These numbers are troubling as we are because even more acute when you look at the existing racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities.

Neither these bills nor the Committee's other efforts have gone far enough to address many of the underlying challenges facing this sector.

I hope that we can advance this legislation as well.

I'm happy to once again support my colleague Mr. Engel's bill, to rein in this dangerous practice.