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Rep. Steve Cohen: We must address maternal health | Featured letter

Rep. Steve Cohen
Guest Columnist

I read with interest guest columnist Jonathan Joseph’s recent op-ed (“What Tennessee can do to address infant and maternal mortality rates”) and agree with him that “too many infants are dying” in Tennessee. 

I was pleased to see Mr. Joseph noted my authorship of the NEWBORN Act, which addresses these issues in a systemic fashion, and the success the Memphis BLUES program is having addressing these issues in Shelby County.

As a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I am keenly aware of how this pandemic is impacting communities of color.  I also want to bring to your attention my co-sponsorship of a measure addressing infant and maternal mortality during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act, introduced recently, will focus on these issues and address the gaps in care disproportionately affecting Black Americans.

I want to thank The Tennessean for calling attention to this critical national disgrace and the immediate need to address it.

Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, Member of Congress, 9th District, Tennessee