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Congressman Krishnamoorthi Supports Appropriations Bill Including Key Funding For Maternal Health

October 2, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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."