“Mommas are dying across this country. Every year, we lose more mommas to maternal mortality and it’s a sad fact that it’s more dangerous to have a baby today than it was 25 years ago,” began Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Congresswoman Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and member of the health subcommittee, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee spoke surrounded by medical doctors and health advocates outside the U.S. Capitol. Together with Dr. Lisa Hollier, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Stacey D. Stewart, president and CEO of the March of Dimes, they called for Congressional action to reduce and end maternal mortality and morbidity. During her remarks, Congresswoman Kelly announced that the Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA’s) Act would be re-introduced in the coming days. Originally introduced in the last Congress, the MOMMA’s Act provides a comprehensive approach to addressing and ending maternal mortality in the United States. In total, the MOMMA’s Act would make comprehensive reforms to the delivery of pregnancy, maternal and post-partum care by:

• Establishing national obstetric emergency protocols through a federal expert committee,

• Ensuring dissemination of best shared practices and coordination amongst maternal mortality review committees,

• Improving access to culturally competent care throughout the care continuum