{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-underwood-adams-reintroduce-bicameral-momnibus-act-to-end-americas-black-maternal-health-crisis", "Booker, Underwood, Adams Reintroduce Bicameral Momnibus Act to End America\u2019s Black Maternal Health Crisis", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the landmark Momnibus Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to end the nation\u2019s maternal health crisis and directly confront the devastating disparities that continue to claim the lives of Black mothers at alarming rates. U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Alma S. Adams (D-NC-12), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, introduced companion legislation in the House.\n\n\u201cBlack mothers in America are dying at rates that are as shocking as they are unacceptable,\u201d said Senator Booker. \u201cThe United States has the worst maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, and Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes\u2014even though most of these deaths are preventable. This crisis demands urgent, targeted action. I am proud to reintroduce the Momnibus Act, which invests in better care, strengthens community support, and confronts the systemic inequities that put Black moms at risk. Congress must act now to protect mothers and save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201c80% of maternal deaths in America are preventable, and the Momnibus is designed to stop them. I\u2019m proud to introduce this historic legislation with Representative Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker to build on the progress we have made and secure the investments we need to end this crisis,\u201d said Representative Lauren Underwood. \u201cThis bill has the tools we need to make America a safer place to give birth, especially for the Black moms and other women of color who are at the highest risk. The Momnibus will save moms\u2019 lives, and Congress must act urgently to pass it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Momnibus Act is the most comprehensive piece of legislation ever drafted to address the maternal health crisis.\u201d said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. \u201cThe maternal mortality rate in the United States is worse today than it was 20 years ago. With all the advances of modern science, that speaks to a serious lack of investment in our research and health care systems that care for our moms. Not only that, the rate of mortality for Black women is disproportionately higher and that gap has not shrunk in decades. This is an unacceptable reality, and we must act urgently and boldly to address this crisis. The Momnibus is the solution. Congress must make the safety and health of our moms a priority and get this bill passed into law.\u201d\n\nFor years, the United States has had the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with stark racial disparities. In 2024, Black women faced a pregnancy-related mortality ratio more than three times higher than White women\u2014even though more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (CA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Tim Kaine (VA), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Raphael Warnock (GA), Ruben Gallego (AZ), Martin Heinrich (NM), Brian Schatz (HI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Mazie Hirono (HI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Peter Welch (VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Adam Schiff (CA), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Michael Bennet (CO), Andy Kim (NJ), Tina Smith (MN), Edward Markey (MA), John Hickenlooper (CO), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Patty Murray (WA), Gary Peters (MI), and Bernie Sanders (VT).\n\n\u201cIn California and across the country, mothers often navigate pregnancy without the resources they need,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the Momnibus Act to save and improve moms\u2019 lives through smart investments in pre and postnatal care.\u201d\n\nThe Momnibus Act makes targeted, high-impact investments to address the drivers of the Black maternal health crisis, including social determinants of health, access to culturally congruent care, maternal mental health, community-based supports, and the effects of climate change and public health emergencies on Black mothers and babies.\n\nThe Momnibus Act is composed of 14 bills that will:\n\nInvest in social determinants of health\u2014including housing, transportation, and nutrition\u2014to reduce preventable risks disproportionately affecting Black moms.\n\nExtend WIC eligibility during postpartum and breastfeeding periods.\n\nFund community-based organizations trusted by Black families and rooted in the communities they serve.\n\nIncrease maternal health care funding for veterans, including Black women veterans who face unique barriers.\n\nGrow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure Black mothers receive care from providers who understand their lived experiences.\n\nImprove maternal health data collection to identify and eliminate disparities.\n\nExpand maternal mental health and substance use disorder support, with attention to the needs of Black moms.\n\nImprove care for incarcerated mothers, who are disproportionately Black.\n\nInvest in digital tools to expand access to care in underserved communities.\n\nPromote innovative payment models that incentivize high-quality, culturally congruent care.\n\nStrengthen federal programs addressing maternal and infant health risks during public health emergencies.\n\nSupport climate resilience initiatives for moms and babies, including Black families disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards.\n\nInvest in research to eliminate racial disparities and prevent maternal deaths.\n\nPromote maternal vaccinations to protect moms and infants.\n\nThe Momnibus Act is endorsed by more than 250 organizations. View the full list of endorsers here.\n\nTo read the full text of the one-pager here.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"]], "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://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-underwood-adams-reintroduce-bicameral-momnibus-act-to-end-americas-black-maternal-health-crisis"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0160531383007765, "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"}