(WASHINGTON, D.C.)— Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) today joined Representatives Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and John Lewis (GA-05) and 62 colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the United States is taking all available steps to adequately understand the unique risks and effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in pregnant women. The Members also emphasized the importance of ensuring that efforts to understand the effects of COVID-19 during and after pregnancy include proactive steps to promote racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity among participants.
The Members wrote: “As we seek to collect more comprehensive COVID-19 data for pregnant women, an equitable approach must include a focused consideration of women of color, who already experience disproportionate rates of adverse maternal health outcomes. In order to take appropriate steps to protect pregnant and postpartum women from COVID-19 risks, we must gather a stronger evidence base to inform future policy."
The letter was also signed by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick, Gwen Moore, Terri A. Sewell, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Brian Higgins, Lucy McBath, John B. Larson, David Trone, Sheila Jackson Lee, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rosa L. DeLauro, Ayanna Pressley, Danny K. Davis, Barbara Lee, Sean Casten, Tim Ryan, Steve Cohen, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Jahana Hayes, Mike Doyle, Nydia M. Velázquez, Wm. Lacy Clay, Jan Schakowsky, Tony Cárdenas, Juan Vargas, Donna E. Shalala, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Betty McCollum, Grace Meng, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Yvette D. Clarke, Al Lawson, David E. Price, Lizzie Fletcher, Stephen F. Lynch, Scott Peter, Kathy Castor, Bill Foster, Kim Schrier, M.D., Lucille Roybal-Allard, G. K. Butterfield, James P. McGovern, Conor Lamb, Brenda L. Lawrence, Jennifer Wexton, Cedric L. Richmond, Jason Crow, Ann McLane Kuster, Joyce Beatty, Jackie Speier, Ro Khanna, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cheri Bustos, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Abigail D. Spanberger, Elaine G. Luria, Maxine Waters, and Josh Harder joined the letter to HHS Secretary Azar.
A copy of the letter can be found here.
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