Maternal Mortality Crisis (Cong. Rec., May 19, 2021)
Summary
Page H2555 of the House section of the Congressional Record for May 19, 2021, from one-minute speeches in interleaved columns, headed Maternal Mortality Crisis. A speaker describes the maternal mortality crisis among Black women, citing access to affordable care, bias and racism, and says the MOMMA Act will extend coverage through the full postpartum year and improve culturally competent care. Another speaker says the Bureau of Reclamation lacks the water right to release water for salmon and sucker fish and cites Section 8 of the Reclamation Act, and a third seeks long-term support for southwest Louisiana after disaster funding.
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“Maternal Mortality Crisis (Cong. Rec., May 19, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-05-19-crec-2021-05-19-pt1-pgh2555-f16e19b250/
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May 19, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2555
water in Upper Lake, but the Bureau of standardization of care, bias, and rac- petent care training and workforce
Reclamation does not have the permit, ism. Pregnancy and birth should be one practices throughout the entire deliv-
the license, the right to use the water of the happiest times for a family, but ery continuum.
themselves for salmon in the river or for Black women that is too often not This aspect, in particular, is so im-
for the sucker fish that stay in the the case, and we must take action now portant in addressing the harmful bi-
lake. to begin saving the lives and protecting ases and misconceptions that are, un-
Going further, Section 8 of the Rec- the health of Black women. fortunately, persuasive through our
lamation Act clearly states that the One of the most pressing issues re- healthcare system, but especially
Federal Government cannot interfere lated to the maternal mortality crisis rampant when it comes to Black ma-
with the laws of States relating to the we must address is access to high-qual- ternal health. We have already lost too
control or distribution of water used in ity, affordable healthcare. We know many mothers to this crisis.
irrigation. there are major risks associated with While many of us celebrated Mother’s
So in 1978, California vs. the U.S. cer- becoming uninsured shortly after preg- Day just a few weeks ago, families
tified that a State can impose require- nancy. across the country mourned lost moth-
ments under distribution of water ers and babies and remembered trau-
b 1115
through a Federal reclamation project matic and unacceptable birth stories.
That is why I fought to have ex- I have talked with husbands who are
as long as they are consistent with
tended Medicare coverage included in so frustrated with the way their wives
clear Congressional directives as Con- the American Rescue Plan, so that were treated, and wonder if there is
gress set this back up over 100 years women are able to receive postpartum
ago and ongoing. The Congress has something else they could have done to
care up to 1 year after birth instead of protect them. I have heard the heart-
made it clear multiple times that the the existing 60 days of coverage.
Klamath Project was designed and es- breaking stories of tragedy and loss di-
But we need to take additional steps rectly from these fathers. I have cried
tablished for irrigation. to incentivize every single State to
So if you want to concede just for a with them and shared their pain.
permanently implement this policy. I introduce these bills, the Helping
moment, playing along with Fish and That is why, today, I am introducing
Wildlife, that the current level at MOMS Act and the MOMMA Act, in
the Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity honor of those mothers and families,
4,140.4, and you take it down to 4,138, Services Act, or Helping MOMS Act of
there is 173,000 acre-feet of water avail- and recommit myself to always fight-
2021. ing for the health and safety of women.
able for farmers right now that should This bipartisan legislation will
not be taken, even if you concede the f
amend the American Rescue Plan to
sucker fish total. provide a permanent State option to WORKING TO HELP LOUISIANA
So we have got giant problems in the extend postpartum Medicaid coverage STAND BACK UP
basin. from 60 days after delivery to a full The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
f year. The Helping MOMs Act would Chair recognizes the gentleman from
MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS also authorize a 5 percent Federal med- Louisiana (Mr. HIGGINS) for 5 minutes.
ical assistance percentage rate for the Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Madam
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
first year that States adopt extended Speaker, it has been 9 months since
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
coverage. Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated
Illinois (Ms. KELLY) for 5 minutes. Ensuring healthcare coverage for the southwest Louisiana.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam entirety of the postpartum period will Our region has endured natural dis-
Speaker, we are in the midst of a save lives and prevent needless com- aster after natural disaster. This past
shameful healthcare crisis. In 2021, plications that endanger the health of year has been incredibly challenging:
there is no reason that giving birth mothers and their babies. This is an two very powerful, major hurricanes; a
should be more dangerous for women important step forward, but is not the crippling ice storm; and this week, on-
today than it was for their mothers. only change that is needed. going, a severe rainfall event that is
Despite declining rates and maternal The Black maternal health crisis is a causing homes and businesses to flood.
mortality around the world, in the multifactorial epidemic, and solving it Many families will have to again re-
United States, the rates have been will require a multifaceted approach. start the difficult process of rebuilding
climbing in recent years. Decades of in- That is why, tomorrow, I will reintro- their lives. Our people have been resil-
stitutional racism in our society and duce my Mothers and Offspring Mor- ient in the face of great adversity, a
our healthcare system have brought us tality and Morbidity Awareness Act, or show of incredible strength.
to this moment. the MOMMA Act. But the need for help from the Fed-
Data released by the CDC last month This comprehensive bill tackles a eral Government is dire. While much
shows that the maternal mortality cri- growing maternal mortality crisis and work has been done, southwest Lou-
sis is only worsening, and the risks are severe morbidity in five ways. The isiana has long-term recovery needs.
even greater for Black women and MOMMA Act will standardize maternal To date, we have worked with our Fed-
other women of color. Black women are mortality and morbidity data collec- eral partners to deliver well over $1 bil-
three times more likely, and indige- tion across States and authorize a des- lion in disaster relief to Louisiana,
nous women are more than twice as ignated Federal agency to aggregate with more on the way.
likely to die from pregnancy-related that data. We have worked with President
causes as non-Hispanic women. Even Maternal heath advocates agree that Trump and President Biden to secure
worse, more than two-thirds of the standardization of data across the increased Federal assistance through
deaths are preventable. country is critical in fully under- cost-share adjustments, now at levels
Additionally, the rates of pregnancy- standing this crisis and informing fu- of 90 and 100 percent.
related complications are on the rise. ture decisions about how to improve These resources have supported
And for every maternal death in the women’s healthcare. southwest Louisiana’s most immediate
United States, there are approximately This bill will empower the CDC to needs: housing and rental assistance,
100 women who experience severe ma- provide technical guidance and publish utility repairs, debris removal, hazard
ternal morbidity, or a ‘‘near miss.’’ best practices to prevent maternal mitigation, and other disaster response
As chair of the Congressional Black mortality and morbidity. It will au- costs.
Caucus Health Braintrust and co-chair thorize evidence-based national obstet- Due to the COVID–19 pandemic and
of the Congressional Caucus on Black ric emergency protocol to save moth- related bills, these Federal disaster ac-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
Women and Girls, I have seen so many ers’ lives. counts have received supplemental
examples of how the healthcare system The MOMMA Act will expand funding well beyond normal appropria-
fails Black women. healthcare coverage through the full tions and are still available to the peo-
Maternal mortality is a complex cri- postpartum year after giving birth. ple of southwest Louisiana.
sis with inequities stemming from Finally, the MOMMA Act will ensure However, our region requires addi-
many factors, including access to care, improved access to culturally com- tional support in the form of long-term
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