Jaime's Bill to Prevent Maternal Deaths Heads to President's Desk

Statement

U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler's bipartisan bill to prevent maternal deaths is heading to the president's desk to become law after it passed the U.S. Senate last night.

Jaime's bill, H.R. 1318 Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, passed the U.S. House Tuesday by unanimous voice vote.

"Passage of this bill through Congress represents a monumental step in addressing our country's maternal health crisis. We should be investigating every single maternal death because every woman is worth it, and this bill will help states do just that," Jaime said. "While we can't bring back the mothers we have tragically lost, we can honor their lives by doing everything possible to prevent more women dying during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum."

The rise of maternal mortality in the U.S.:
* The U.S. has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the developed world, and the rate continues to rise. Between 700-900 women die in the U.S. every year from pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths.
* According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of maternal deaths are preventable.

Source