FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán introduced a bipartisan bill to protect the mental health of new mothers by increasing prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and access to care for maternal mental health conditions.
Affecting 1 in 5 pregnant and new mothers, maternal mental health conditions – like anxiety, depression, addiction or suicidal behaviors – are the most common health complication of pregnancy and childbirth. New mothers of color are disproportionately impacted and experiencing these conditions at a rate 2 – 3 times higher than white mothers.
To address this suffering among new mothers, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) introduced new bipartisan legislation with Congressmembers Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-Ind.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) to establish a Federal Taskforce on Maternal Mental Health to identify, evaluate, and make recommendations to coordinate and improve federal responses to maternal mental health conditions.
The bill is titled the “Taskforce Recommending Improvements for Unaddressed Mental Perinatal & Postpartum Health for New Moms Act of 2021’’ or the ‘‘TRIUMPH for New Moms Act of 2021.”
“The high rate of mental health conditions among new mothers is heartbreaking and it demands action. At a time that should be full of joy, we must ensure that women get the mental and physical health care they need. The TRIUMPH for New Moms Act will help us achieve that goal,” Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán said.
“Indiana has the third highest maternal mortality rate in the country. This is an urgent health care challenge that we must address, and the great news is that we can. Research indicates that, in many cases, these deaths can be prevented through targeted solutions like increasing mental health support for pregnant and new mothers,” said Dr. Bucshon. “I have long been working to tackle this crisis, and I am proud to help introduce the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act, which will create a task force of experts designated specifically to improve maternal mental health and reduce maternal mortality rates.”
“Maternal health outcomes, especially among women of color, is a public health emergency in our country. In combatting any public health emergency, we need information, coordination, and action. That’s why today, I’m proud to join with my colleagues to introduce the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act,” said Congresswoman Blunt Rochester. “This bill will review and determine best practices for maternal health, coordinate and streamline federal resources to get them where they need to go, and most importantly, create a coordinated national strategy to help mothers throughout the country.”
“As a mother of four, I am familiar with the struggles new mothers often face,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to support mothers and provide targeted resources to women and families who need it most.”
The Taskforce would create and regularly update a report that identify, analyze, and evaluate the state of national maternal mental health policy and programs at the federal, state, and local levels. The Taskforce would identify best practices, including strategies and recommendations to eliminate the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in maternal mental health.
The Taskforce would also develop and regularly update a national strategy for maternal mental health, including how Federal departments and agencies represented on the Task Force will addressing maternal mental health conditions including by increasing prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and access to care.
Text of the bill can be found here.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.