Our nation’s maternal mortality crisis, which severely impacts Georgians, is alarming and trending in the wrong direction. Since 1999, maternal death rates in Georgia have doubled. For women of color and people living in rural communities, those numbers are much higher. The U.S. is trending in the wrong direction, and we need to understand why moms are dying at such an alarming rate.

As a father, grandfather, and healthcare professional, I believe that Congress can and must do better at supporting moms and their babies.

That is why I have introduced bipartisan legislation, the Healthy Moms and Babies Act, to improve maternal and child health by increasing services, support, and access to high-quality coordinated care, supporting women and babies with 21st-century technology, such as telehealth, and taking additional steps to reduce the maternal mortality rate, including “whole person” care, stillbirth prevention, and improving our understanding of social determinants of health in pregnant and postpartum women. This bipartisan bill is an important step towards ending the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S. so that women and children have the best health care that our nation can provide.

I look forward to shepherding this legislation through Congress and signed into law.

It is an honor to represent the First Congressional District in Congress.

Sincerely,