Representative Capps Introduces Global Moms Act

Bill Focused on Improving Maternal and Newborn Health

Washington, May 11, 2010 – As people around the world celebrate Mother’s Day, Representative Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced the Improvements in Global Maternal and Newborn Health Outcomes while Maximizing Successes Act, or “Global MOMS Act,” (HR 5268) to show appreciation for mothers around the world by ensuring they have access to quality health care from pre-conception through pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum care. 

At a press conference on Capitol Hill as a part of the bill’s introduction, Rep. Capps; Christy Turlington Burns, CARE Advocate for Maternal Health and Documentary Director of No Woman, No Cry; Cathy Woolard of CARE; and Theresa Shaver of the White Ribbon Alliance highlighted the Global MOMS Act.

The Global MOMS Act calls for:

• Development of a strategy as part of the Global Health Initiative to reduce mortality and improve maternal and newborn health;
• Improved coordination among U.S. government agencies and existing programs that are currently working to reduce maternal and newborn mortality; and
• Authorization of assistance in proven interventions including family planning, access to skilled care at birth and training professionals in emergency obstetric care.

The Global MOMS Act is being introduced as a lead up to the Women Deliver 2010 conference that will be held in Washington, DC June 7-9, 2010. “Women Deliver brings together thousands of leaders and advocates from around the world with the goal of improving the lives of women and girls around the world,” said Rep. Capps.

This year’s Women Deliver conference will be attended by nearly 3,000 leaders from 135 countries, including parliamentarians, academics and experts. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will open the conference, which will also feature the heads of UN agencies working on these issues, including UNFPA, UNDP, the WHO, UNICEF, UNIFEM and UNAIDS.

Preliminary co-sponsors of the Global MOMS Act include Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rosa DeLaura (D-CT), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Barbara Lee (D-CA). Tomorrow, over 900 advocates from around the country will come to Capitol Hill to lobby in support of the bill.

The Global MOMS Act is another step in a longer road toward new policies and more resources from the U.S. government to reduce maternal mortality and pregnancy-related injuries in the U.S. and throughout the world. In May 2008, Congress passed H.Res 1022 "Reducing Maternal Mortality Both at Home and Abroad" that states the House of Representatives will make a stronger commitment to reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad through greater financial investment and participation in global initiatives, and recognizes maternal health as a human right. H.Res 1022 was initiated by Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) and other members of the Congressional delegation to the 2007 Women Deliver conference, including former Congresswomen Hilda Solis, now U.S. Secretary of Labor, Gwen Moore (D-WI), Donna Christensen (D-VI) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY).

The Global MOMS Act is endorsed by CARE, Amnesty International, Pathfinder International, Guttmacher Institute, Management Sciences for Health, Ipas, Marie Stopes International - US, Americans for UNFPA, National Council of Women's Organizations, White Ribbon Alliance, PATH, PSI (Population Services International), Population Action International, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, International Women's Health Coalition, Planned Parenthood Federation of America and CHANGE.

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