The Word 'Black' Has Disappeared From a Set of Bills Aimed at Addressing Black Maternal Health | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

The Momnibus Act has changed its naming and wording across multiple years. The 2023 version removed “Black” from the legislative text except for a single reference to a historically Black college or minority-serving institution, and those changes carried into the latest version. Earlier versions used “Black” more extensively, including references primarily to Black women in 2020 and later shifting to “Black pregnant and postpartum individuals” in 2021. The legislation aims to address high U.S. maternal mortality rates and major disparities affecting Black women. Maternal mortality in the U.S. is higher than in other developed nations, and Black women face substantially higher pregnancy-related death rates than White women.

"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. But removing “Black” from the title of the bill comes"

Read at Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.