“This is Black Maternal Mental Health Week. Mental health issues are the top cause of maternal deaths, and Black mothers are treated the least. We must act now to improve healthcare and save Black mothers from preventable deaths.”

“Mr. Speaker, this is Black Maternal Mental Health Week, and it is a time for action. We can save countless Black mothers from preventable death. Michigan has one of the highest death rates among Black pregnant people because our health system fails to provide comprehensive and accessible healthcare. Folks here may not know this, but mental health is the leading cause of maternal deaths, and Black women in our country are the most underreported and undertreated. As the chair of the Congressional Mamas Caucus, our members and I are committing to improving mothers’ mental health all year round, not just this week. Every year, we display portraits of Black mothers who died from pregnancy-related causes because so many of our Black mothers are held invisible in our policymaking. They are ignored and dismissed when they are the ones who need to be heard the most concerning the cause of maternal health in our country. I will continue to amplify their voices so that all Black mamas can thrive alongside their families. It is important that our country saves Black mothers now and not wait for statistics to come every single year to tell us we are not doing our job.”