The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) dedicated a Special Order Hour on April 20, 2026, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week. Lawmakers highlighted the pressing issue of maternal mortality in the United States, with a particular focus on the alarming disparity faced by Black women. Their call for systemic change was underscored by personal stories, detailed statistics, and legislative proposals.

A Persistent Crisis

Black women in the United States remain tragically overrepresented in maternal mortality statistics. According to data referenced during the Special Order Hour, Black women are more than three times as likely as their white counterparts to die from pregnancy-related causes. This stark disparity exists even as the nation's overall maternal mortality rate declined slightly in 2023. Despite progress in some areas, 87% of pregnancy-related deaths remain preventable.

Representative Jennifer McClellan from Virginia recounted her personal brush with maternal mortality, sharing that she and her daughter nearly died during childbirth due to placenta previa and complications requiring an emergency C-section. McClellan pointed out that her access to health insurance and prenatal care made her one of the "lucky" ones—underscoring how many Black women lack these lifelines.

The maternal health crisis in the U.S. is an outlier among high-income countries. Systemic inequities, structural racism, and healthcare access gaps collectively contribute to the disproportionately high rate of maternal deaths among Black mothers.

The Role of Policy and Legislation

The CBC emphasized that maternal health issues intersect with broader policy areas: healthcare access, insurance affordability, reproductive rights, and even environmental factors. Medicaid cuts and the expiration of provisions under the Affordable Care Act were cited as financial barriers making maternal care inaccessible for low-income families. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was identified as another complicating factor, with restrictive abortion laws putting women’s lives at greater risk in certain states.

Representatives also discussed the detrimental downstream effects of federal budget cuts and policy rollbacks. Proposed reductions of over $800 million in maternal and child health programs, including the Healthy Start initiative, threaten the effectiveness of efforts like maternal mortality review committees and perinatal quality collaboratives. Representative McClellan and others criticized these financial cuts, calling them unacceptable.

Action Through the MOMNIBUS

A core focus of the Special Order Hour was the MOMNIBUS—comprehensive legislation comprising 14 individual bills aimed at addressing clinical and non-clinical factors underlying maternal health disparities. The MOMNIBUS includes initiatives to:

• Expand the perinatal workforce by supporting doula services and culturally competent care.
• Extend support programs like WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) for postpartum mothers.
• Address maternal health concerns for incarcerated women.
• Improve mental health services during and after pregnancy.

Representative Gwen Moore from Wisconsin emphasized the importance of no-cost mental health care for one year postpartum, identifying poor mental health support as a critical issue leading to maternal deaths. She stressed that 87% of maternal mortality cases are preventable with interventions rooted in science and evidence.

Black Maternal Health Week: A Decade of Advocacy

Black Maternal Health Week, spearheaded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, focuses on advocacy, community building, and policy change. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Justice and Joy," celebrated the resilience of Black mothers while challenging the systemic inequities that undermine their health.

Representative Yvette Clarke of New York, chair of the CBC, called Black maternal health a "moral crisis" in the wealthiest nation on Earth. She condemned ongoing federal efforts to dismantle healthcare protections as exacerbating existing disparities. Clarke urged for investments in community-based care, diversification of the maternal health workforce, and addressing implicit bias within the healthcare system.

Personal Responsibility and Community Advocacy

Lawmakers shared personal stories to underline the urgency of this issue. Representative Emilia Sykes of Ohio reflected on maternal mortality statistics in her state, where rates for Black mothers have more than doubled. She spoke of efforts to address these disparities, including co-founding Ohio’s first Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Similarly, Representative Lauren Underwood of Illinois highlighted the need for bipartisan support, stating that the MOMNIBUS is "not a band-aid." Detailing life-saving legislative wins over the years, such as the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, she called for comprehensive solutions to end maternal mortality disparities once and for all.

Moving Forward

The CBC and the Black Maternal Health Caucus reiterated their commitment to pushing the MOMNIBUS into law. Their proposals emphasize equity, justice, and the value of Black women’s lives. With mounting pressure on federal lawmakers to prioritize maternal health, the Special Order Hour served as both a reflection on progress and a rallying cry for immediate action.

The maternal mortality crisis, described by advocates as preventable, will require collective efforts from policymakers, healthcare institutions, and communities. As Representative Sykes put it, "This is not just a public health issue. This is a human issue, and Black mothers can't afford to wait."