Protecting Moms Who Served Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 958, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act, which I was proud to co-lead with Congresswoman Underwood, Congressman Bilirakis, and Congressman Fitzpatrick.

Madam Speaker, this bill will ensure that veterans get the high- quality maternal care they have earned by codifying the Maternity Care Coordination Program. Additionally, this bill will require the GAO to report on maternal mortality and morbidity among veterans.

I thank the chairman for his support on this issue, and I am proud that this bill passed the committee with broad bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, as you may know, among developed countries, the United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with an average rate of 17.2 deaths per 100,000 live births.

For women of color, the rates are even higher. For Black women, the maternal mortality rate is 41.7 deaths per 100,000. And for American Indian and Alaska Native women, it is 28.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. More than 50 percent of pregnancy-related deaths happen after delivery.

Today, there are 2 million women veterans living in the United States, and women comprise the fastest growing subpopulation of both the military and veteran populations, yet many of their health needs go unaddressed in a VA system that has not evolved to equitably serve a rapidly changing population.

As the chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force and chair of House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I am proud to join Congresswoman Underwood, who has truly, truly been a champion--she is the founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus--in fighting to end disparities in maternal care for women veterans. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country. It is past time that we address this inequity.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our women veterans and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 958.

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