Rep. Davids, Senator Smith Reintroduce Legislation to Tackle Maternal Mortality Crisis Through Improved Data, Research

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Senator Tina Smith (MN) introduced legislation to address America’s worsening maternal mortality crisis, underscoring their commitment to expanding research and improving maternal health care nationwide. Their Data to Save Moms Act aims to better understand the root causes of this crisis by strengthening data collection on maternal mortality and morbidity.

“The U.S. is falling desperately short on the issue of maternal health, and frankly, it is shameful — but we can’t fix a problem we don’t fully understand,” said Davids. “By listening to the physicians and mothers who are on the front lines of this crisis and improving our existing data collection methods, we can take informed action and save lives.”

“It’s not radical to believe that every woman giving birth should be able to access high-quality health care, and that we should focus on areas where we see the biggest disparities in health outcomes,” said Senator Tina Smith (MN). “By funding research on maternal health, this legislation will help to understand the root causes of health complications from pregnancy and labor so we can tackle them head on.”

The United States remains the only industrialized country with a rising maternal mortality rate, with the crisis disproportionately impacting communities of color. Black mothers are dying at three to four times the rate of their white counterparts, and Native Americans are more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. According to NurtureKC, these disparities are reflected in Kansas, where Wyandotte County has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the state, with 83.5 deaths per 10,000 live births.

A key focus of the Data to Save Moms Act is strengthening Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs). These multidisciplinary panels — composed of experts such as obstetricians, forensic pathologists, and community representatives — operate across the country to review deaths occurring during or within one year of pregnancy and identify opportunities for prevention.

The legislation would enhance the effectiveness of MMRCs and expand maternal health research by:

• Establishing a grant program to promote representative community engagement in MMRCs in states across the country.
• Commissioning the first-ever comprehensive study to understand the scope of the Native American maternal health crisis.
• Providing funding to establish the first Tribal MMRC.
• Conducting a comprehensive review of maternal health data collection, emphasizing the importance of listening to the stories of pregnant people.
• Investing in maternal health research at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs).

The Data to Save Moms Act is part of the broader Momnibus, led by Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12), along with Senator Cory Booker (NJ). This comprehensive legislative package addresses multiple dimensions of the maternal health crisis, including expanding research, strengthening the perinatal workforce, and improving care for at-risk populations such as veterans and communities of color.

The legislation has been endorsed by more than 180 organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Nursing, American Association of Birth Centers, American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Heart Association, First Focus Campaign for Children, and March of Dimes.