Absence of the Word "Black" in Black Maternal Health Bills Concerns Advocates

"The key change this year is the title. The Momnibus Act - filed in mid-March - was called the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2023; before that it was the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2020. None of the previous packages, which were championed by Democrats, have been enacted."

"The 2020 version has more than a dozen, primarily referencing Black women. In the 2021 version, many of those were replaced with nearly a dozen references to “Black pregnant and postpartum individuals.” All those descriptions were removed in the 2023 bill, with the word Black appearing only once across the entire package, referencing a historically Black college or university or other minority-serving institution. Those 2023 changes carried over to the latest version."

"The legislation - which does not appear to have a path forward in the Republican-controlled Congress - has long been touted as a way to address the United States' abysmal maternal health mortality rates, as well as the stark disparities for Black women. Maternal mortality rates in the United States surpass all other developed nations."

"In 2023, there were 18.6 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the nation. The rate is far worse for Black women at 50.3; they are three times more likely to die than White women from a pregnancy-related cause, irrespective of income or education."

The Momnibus Act has changed its naming and wording across multiple years while addressing the Black maternal health crisis. The bill was previously titled the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in 2020 and 2021, but the 2023 version became the Momnibus Act. Earlier versions included many references to Black women, while the 2021 version shifted to “Black pregnant and postpartum individuals.” In the 2023 version, those descriptions were removed, and the word “Black” appeared only once, tied to historically Black colleges and universities or other minority-serving institutions. The legislation aims to address high maternal mortality rates and severe disparities affecting Black women, who face much higher pregnancy-related death rates than White women.

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