OUR ISSUES
Our Issues
Below is an overview of the Mom Congress policy pillars.
Our supported legislation in each of these pillars is referred to as the Mom Congress Momnibus. Read about the bills in the 2020 Momnibus here.
Safe and Supported Birth
The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high resource country—and it is the only country outside of Afghanistan and Sudan where the rate is rising. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women in America.
Broken and Unequal Maternity Care
Watch this 40 minute documentary to understand one of the U.S.’s most pressing issues – the failure of our health care system in treating women equally.
Action:
Watch this film with a gathering of your friends.
How Racism Impacts Pregnancy Outcomes
UCLA obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Michael Lu believes that for many women of color, racism over a life time, not just during the nine months of pregnancy, increases the risk of preterm delivery. To improve birth outcomes, Lu argues, we must address the conditions that impact women's health not just when they become pregnant but from childhood, adolescence and into adulthood.
Mom Congress 2020 Black Learn, Listen, & Lift Toolkit
Mom Congress has created this action toolkit that contains action steps including films, books and podcasts to learn about race and black maternal health.
Paid Family Leave
The U.S. is one of only three countries in the world not to offer statutory paid maternity leave. The others are the Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Maternal Mental Health
One in five women will suffer from a maternal mental health disorder like postpartum depression. Maternal depression is the most common complication of birth, yet in the U.S. most women are never undiagnosed and treated.