Raja Supports Key Funding for Maternal Health

Last week, the House of Representatives passed and the President
signed legislation to fund the departments of Labor, Health, and Human
Services, and Education for fiscal year 2019, including $678 million in
additional funding toward Maternal and Child Health Block Grant in
recognition of the United States’ growing maternal mortality crisis.
Each year, between 700 and 900 American women die from pregnancy or
childbirth-related causes. The United States ranks 47th in the world in
maternal mortality rates and stands as one of only 8 nations in which
maternal mortality is increasing. In May, Congressman Krishnamoorthi and
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler introduced HR. 5761, the Ending
Maternal Mortality Act, to establish a national plan to halve the
maternal mortality and morbidity rates over the next decade.

“Our standards of maternal health care reflect how we value women in
our society, but despite our country’s affluence, the United States
currently has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed
world,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “I’m proud to support
increased funding for block grants to help address this crisis and I’ll
continue to work with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to ensure
that patients and doctors have the resources they need to prevent
maternal deaths.”