MADISON – Today Rep. Shelia Stubbs joined select state legislators from across the country to share ideas and strategies for improving Black maternal health. Leading the meeting, conducted remotely, were Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Ambassador Susan Rice, Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor; and Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council.
Rep. Stubbs (D-Madison) released the following statement:
“As part of Black Maternal Health Week I participated in a meeting organized by the White House to share ideas with state legislators across the country on strategies to combat maternal mortality and morbidity, reduce disparities, and improve the overall experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum for women in this country,” Stubbs said.
“In 2021, I was a lead author of the Wisconsin Birth Equity Act. This package of bills included measures related to at-home visits within the first two weeks of birth; insurance coverage for maternal mental health risk screenings; pregnancy as a qualifying event for employer-sponsored health plans; and a sales tax exemption for breast feeding equipment.
“As a Black mother, pastor, and community activist, I hope that if my child starts a family, that she has the resources and opportunities enough to call Wisconsin home. However, with this level of disparity, her future is at risk. The future of countless Black families in Wisconsin is at risk. If we want to make Wisconsin a safe and affordable place to start a family tomorrow, we must start by addressing these disparities today.
“I know it is my duty to make Black child and maternal health a priority for this Legislature. As former First Lady Michelle Obama said ‘Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.’”
