Congressmen Cohen and Graves and Senator Van Hollen Introduce the NEWBORN Act

WASHINGTON – In conjunction with Infant Mortality Awareness Month, Congressmen Steve Cohen (TN-9) and Garret Graves (LA-6) and Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland today introduced 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, this bipartisan bill would create infant mortality-focused pilot programs in the highest-risk areas of the country to help those most in need address this devastating crisis.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“Memphis and the Mid-South continue to have some 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 Memphis. 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:

“The pain of losing a baby is unthinkable, but far too many families endure it – often at higher rates in underserved and minority communities where there are significant disparities in prenatal and infant care. We need to continue working to ensure all mothers and families have the support they need. Targeting federal investments to underserved communities to establish and provide wraparound care – much like Baltimore is already doing with its B’More for Healthy Babies Program – is a key step towards making infant mortality a thing of the past.”

In Tennessee, and particularly in Shelby County, the infant mortality rate is significantly higher than the national average. 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, the United Kingdom and Japan.

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.

Grant funding would go toward addressing one or more of the top five reasons for infant mortality including (1) birth defects, (2) preterm birth and low birth weight, (3) sudden infant death syndrome, (4) maternal pregnancy complications, and/or (5) injuries to the infant.

Congressman Cohen has introduced the NEWBORN Act in previous Congresses since 2009.

Congressman Cohen, a founding member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, 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.

Representatives Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-1), Raul Grijalva (AZ-7), and Derek Kilmer (WA-6) joined Congressmen Cohen and Graves as original cosponsors of the bill in the House of Representatives.

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