{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-booker-introduce-legislation-to-end-americas-maternal-health-crisis/", "Cortez Masto, Booker Introduce Legislation to End America\u2019s Maternal Health Crisis", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NV", "Catherine Cortez Masto", "C001113", "www.cortezmasto.senate.gov", "cortezmasto", "https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Reno, Nev. \u2013 U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the Momnibus Act, a legislative package designed to end the maternal mortality crisis and address the disparities in care that contribute to a disproportionately high Black maternal mortality rate. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswomen Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.-14) and Alma S. Adams (D-N.C.-12).\n\nThe United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths of any high-income nation, and the maternal mortality rate is disproportionately high for Black mothers. Black women face a pregnancy-related mortality rate that is more than three times higher than the rate for White women. But this is a solvable problem \u2013 more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in America are preventable.\n\n\u201cStarting a family should be a joyous time in a person\u2019s life, not a time of anxiety, medical complications, and loss,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cThere is no excuse for the United States having a much higher maternal mortality rate than its peer countries, and it\u2019s time to find solutions. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to invest in better care for new moms and to end the high rate of maternal mortality, particularly among Black women.\u201d\n\nThe Momnibus Act is composed of 14 bills that would:\n\nInvest in social determinants of health \u2013 including housing, transportation, and nutrition \u2013 to reduce preventable risks disproportionately affecting Black women;\n\nExtend the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) during postpartum and breastfeeding periods;\n\nIncrease maternal health care funding for veterans;\n\nGrow and diversify the perinatal workforce;\n\nImprove maternal health data collection;\n\nExpand maternal mental health and substance use disorder support;\n\nInvest in digital tools to expand access to care in underserved communities;\n\nStrengthen federal programs addressing maternal and infant health risks during public health emergencies;\n\nInvest in research to eliminate racial disparities and prevent maternal deaths; and\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. To read the full text of the bill, click here.\n\nSenator Cortez Masto is a champion of Nevada\u2019s mothers and has consistently fought to ensure that they receive the health care they need. She has introduced legislation to ensure health care access for pregnant women and to protect labor and delivery units in rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved communities. The Senator has demanded answers from the Trump Administration about Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) continued mistreatment of pregnant women. Cortez Masto has also consistently fought for improved health care for all Americans. She has led efforts to lower drug costs for seniors, hold Big Pharma accountable, and expand Medicare drug price negotiation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"]], "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.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-booker-introduce-legislation-to-end-americas-maternal-health-crisis/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3170759193599224, "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"}