The United States has the highest rate of maternal death among wealthy nations, and the burden does not fall evenly. Black mothers die from pregnancy-related causes at roughly three times the rate of white mothers, and most of those deaths are considered preventable. A package of bills in Congress, known as the Momnibus, is the most detailed federal plan to change that.
What the Momnibus is
The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is not one bill but a set of bills introduced together. It was reintroduced in 2026 by Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker, the founders of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, along with many colleagues. Each bill targets a different driver of the crisis, so that together they address the whole picture rather than one piece of it.
What it would actually do
The package covers a wide range of concrete steps, including:
- Investing in community organizations that already improve maternal health outcomes in their neighborhoods.
- Growing and diversifying the perinatal workforce, including doulas and midwives.
- Expanding access to maternal mental health and substance use care, before and after birth.
- Extending WIC eligibility further into the postpartum period so new mothers keep nutrition support longer.
- Improving data collection so the country can actually see where mothers are being failed.
- Addressing care for groups often left out, including veterans and incarcerated mothers.
Where it stands
The full Momnibus has not passed as a single law, but it has not been just talk either. Members of the caucus report that since 2023, more than $253 million in Momnibus priorities has been funded through the regular appropriations process, paying for pieces of the plan even without passage of the whole package. That is a reminder that progress on big issues often comes one provision at a time.
Why this matters for every family
Maternal health is not a niche issue. A safe pregnancy and a healthy recovery shape everything that follows for a child and a family. Strong prenatal and postpartum care, mental health support, and trusted providers are exactly the kind of foundation we believe every family deserves.