Federal legislation aimed at reform highlighted during Black Maternal Health Week

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April 16, 2025

From Tashi McQueen, The Afro

Lawmakers acknowledge Black Maternal Health Week and highlight top legislation from the 119th Congress that aim to improve maternal health care in America. U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) expressed concern over federal restructuring efforts and affirmed her commitment to expanding access to care for pregnant women. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Black Maternal Health Week, which began on April 11, comes to a close on April 17, as legislators work to improve maternal health.

According to Black Mamas Matter Alliance, the creators of Black Maternal Health Week, in 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births—about 3.5 times the rate for White women.

In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related issue than White women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable.

A few key federal legislative initiatives supporting Black maternal health that Americans should know about include S.687, H.R.1909, H.R.1966 and

Read more on The Afro.

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