Congressman Cohen and Senator Van Hollen Reintroduce the NEWBORN Act

WASHINGTON -- – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland today reintroduced the Nationally Enhancing the Wellbeing of Babies through Outreach and Research Now (NEWBORN) Act to help address America's unacceptably high infant mortality rate with concrete solutions. If enacted, the measure would create infant mortality-focused pilot programs in the highest-risk areas of the country to help the populations most vulnerable to this devastating crisis.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Memphis continues to have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country. Although we have made some progress over the years, we must do more to help mothers and their children in Shelby and Tipton counties and across the country. This includes ensuring that pregnant mothers have the resources they need to deliver healthy babies and the tools to raise them to become healthy adults. Passing the NEWBORN Act will be a good first step.”

Senator Van Hollen made the following statement:

“No parent should have to endure the heartbreak of losing a child, especially to a preventable cause. But these tragedies are far too common in America, particularly in under-resourced communities. By focusing federal investments in prenatal, postpartum, and infant care where health care access is limited – much like Baltimore is doing through its B’More for Healthy Babies Program – we can take a meaningful step towards making infant mortality a thing of the past.”

The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is unacceptable and, unfortunately, trending upwards. A child born in America is three times more likely to die before their first birthday than a child born in Norway or Japan, and is 31 percent more likely to die before their first birthday in America compared to the average of other developed countries. From 2021 to 2022, the infant mortality rate in the United States rose for the first time since 2001 to 2002. The infant mortality rate increased again in 2023. In Tennessee, and particularly in Shelby County, the infant mortality rate is significantly higher than the national average. Unfortunately, the trend in the United States is headed the wrong way.

The NEWBORN Act would address this problem by funding infant mortality-focused pilot programs in the highest-risk areas of the country. The pilot programs would focus on addressing one or more of the top five causes of infant mortality: birth defects, preterm birth and low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal pregnancy complications, and/or injuries to the infant. The bill text suggests that each program provide infant care counseling, postpartum care, additional care for at-risk mothers, a rural outreach program, and a public education campaign.

In the United States, more children die before their first birthdays than in 19 other wealthy countries. The U.S. rate per capita is higher than Cuba, Canada, Greece, Italy, Portugal or France.

The NEWBORN Act pilot programs would be designed to educate at-risk and potential mothers about pregnancy and prenatal care. This legislation will help create a better understanding of the causes of infant mortality and best practices for preventing it.

Congressman Cohen has introduced the NEWBORN Act in previous Congresses, and Senator Van Hollen led its introduction in the Senate in the 118^th Congress – the first time this legislation had been introduced in the Senate. 

A founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Congressman Cohen has been a leader on infant mortality issues since his years in the state Senate. In August 2018, Congressman Cohen hosted a symposium on infant and maternal mortality at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, bringing together a panel of medical and social services experts from across the Mid-South region focused on the needs of mothers in Memphis, the barriers to improving maternal health care, reducing infant mortality and resources available in Shelby County.

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