Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock and Shelley Moore Capito introduced the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025

The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize programs to preserve maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum and would address disparities in maternal health outcomes through data collection, analysis, and strategies for prevention

These programs funded the Georgia study which found nearly 90% of maternal deaths in Georgia are preventable

Senator Reverend Warnock: “Reauthorizing data collection programs is an important piece of the puzzle to end the maternal mortality crisis, but we have so much more work”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation would support states in preserving maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, addressing disparities in maternal health outcomes and finding solutions to enhance health care quality and outcomes for mothers. Georgia ranks among the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.

“Reauthorizing data collection programs is an important piece of the puzzle to end the maternal mortality crisis, but we have so much more work,” said Senator Warnock.“Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. This is unacceptable, and we owe it to expecting mothers to do all we can to ensure they have positive health outcomes during delivery. That’s why I’m proud to partner with Senator Capito on this legislation to establish strategies for prevention.”

“I was proud to sponsor the original version of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act signed into law by President Trump in 2018. It established this framework to reduce preventable deaths and to work towards every mom having a safe and healthy pregnancy,” said Senator Capito. “The bipartisan legislation we recently introduced will continue these efforts and both identify and provide best practices to help address our nation’s maternal mortality crisis. Programs that support our mothers and young families are essential to the health and well-being of our nation, and I will continue to put solutions forward that provide the support they need.”

Senator Warnock has been a steadfast supporter of ending maternal mortality, including introducing the Kira Johnson Act to support bias training and data collection. Senator Warnock also partnered with then Senator Rubio (R-FL) to pass into law the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act which authorized new grant programs to reduce maternal mortality and improve implicit bias training for providers. Additionally, the Senator continues to be a strong advocate for closing the Medicaid coverage gap in Georgia. This effort alone would improve the maternal mortality rate, particularly for Black women.

Read full text of the bill HERE

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