{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5956", "Moore, Warren, Booker, Adams, Underwood, Pressley, Dingell Work to Improve Maternal Health", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Gwen Moore", "M001160", "gwenmoore.house.gov", "gwenmoore", "https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "According to the CDC, more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Research has found that doula and midwifery care can reduce the use of C-sections and pre-term births and improve mothers\u2019 wellbeing. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Cory Booker (D-N.J), and Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.) introduced the Mamas First Act, which would expand access to this care for mothers who rely on Medicaid.\n\n\u201cAcross this nation, 40 percent of moms depend on Medicaid when they give birth. Instead of gutting and sabotaging Medicaid, we need to strengthen it so we can save lives. The Mamas First Act would provide mothers with access to evidence-based supportive care that can lead to healthier outcomes for them and their babies. At a time when stark disparities in maternal mortality continue to hit our communities hard, I am thrilled to have such incredible colleagues and advocates supporting the Mamas First Act and the ongoing fight to save lives,\u201d said Congresswoman Gwen Moore.\n\n\u201cInstead of slashing health care for millions of Americans like Republicans in Congress are hellbent on doing, we should be expanding access to care to protect every momma and baby. It\u2019s unthinkable that the richest country in the world would also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The Mamas First Act will help fix this crisis by improving access to high-quality care and rooting out the deep disparities and systemic racism in our health care system,\u201d said Senator Elizabeth Warren.\n\n\u201cThe Mamas First Act meets a crisis that is costing mothers their lives\u2014especially Black and Indigenous women who walk into delivery rooms carrying risks no family should bear,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). \u201cBy ensuring Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this bill delivers the trusted care that keeps mothers safe and babies alive. Congress must act now.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe quality of care a pregnant woman receives should not depend on the color of her skin, where she lives, or her ability to pay. Each childbirth is different, and women and their doctors should be empowered to decide what care is best. By providing access to adequate and proper maternal services, including doulas and midwives, we will help end the maternal mortality crisis in our country and ensure our children start their lives out healthy and strong,\u201d said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell.\n\n\u201cSupport from care workers like doulas and midwives can make the difference between a positive and healthy pregnancy outcome, and a devastating one. Every mom should be able to access this critically important care,\u201d said Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. \u201cAs Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Gwen Moore to introduce the Mamas First Act, a bold step to address our country\u2019s maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include doula, midwife, and lactation care. Together, we can, and must, take decisive action to save lives and end disparities.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery mother deserves the care and support needed for a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery,\u201d said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. \u201cThat is why I am proud to support the reintroduction of the Mamas First Act. Research shows that doula and midwife care can improve maternal health outcomes and reduce pregnancy-related complications. Yet the United States continues to face an unacceptable maternal mortality crisis, and Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than women of other racial and ethnic groups. Moms can\u2019t wait, and neither should Congress. We must expand access to high-quality maternal care and ensure every mother has the opportunity to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:31:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://gwenmoore.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5956"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0235479567199945, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}