Lauren continues to advance legislation in order to: End our nation’s maternal health crisis
End the nation's maternal health crisis.
Occurrences
Evidence
Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (Introduced 02/08/2021). Official title: "To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes." Status on the page shows the bill was introduced in the House and referred to committees.
The release says the Momnibus is "historic legislation to save moms' lives, end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, and achieve maternal health justice." It says the package makes investments in social determinants of health, community-based organizations, the perinatal workforce, and data collection.
The press release states the Protecting Moms Who Served Act "passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support" and was "the first bill in the Momnibus to pass on the floor of the House of Representatives."
The bill page shows: "Latest Action: 11/30/2021 Became Public Law No: 117-69." The enacted summary says the law requires VA maternity care coordination and a GAO report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among pregnant and postpartum veterans.
The report says the 2024 maternal mortality rate was 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, not significantly lower than 2023. It also says the Black non-Hispanic maternal mortality rate was 44.8, significantly higher than White, Hispanic, and Asian rates.
The release says Underwood, Adams, and Booker reintroduced the Momnibus, "14 bills that comprehensively address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the United States," and Underwood said the package would "build on the progress we have made" and "secure the investments we need to end this crisis."
Assessments
The promised outcome was to end the nation's maternal health crisis, but CDC data cited in the evidence show maternal mortality and racial disparities persisted as of 2024, and Underwood was still reintroducing the Momnibus in March 2026 to pursue the same goal. She made serious legislative efforts, including introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and helping enact the narrower Protecting Moms Who Served Act, but those actions did not deliver the full promised national outcome.