The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report about maternal mortality is not a surprise to Cong. Lauren Underwood. The CDC says more than 1,200 American women died of pregnancy related complications in 2021 and that was the highest number since 1964. Black and Hispanic women had fatal complications at higher rates than white women. Underwood sponsored the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2017 to help them get care.
The bill hasn’t passed Congress. She’s encouraging anyone interested in the issue to get involved in telling others about it, especially others in Congress. It’s the subject of the top tweet on Underwood’s Twitter account. Underwood says 80% of deaths from pregnancy complications are preventable.