California lawmakers gathered on January 27, 2025, to address critical issues surrounding maternal health, marking January 23rd as Maternal Health Awareness Day. The session highlighted significant achievements and ongoing challenges in maternal health, particularly for marginalized communities.

Assemblymember Sharp Collins opened the discussion by celebrating Clara's Health, a nonprofit clinic in Southern California, which recently won the National Institutes of Health Maternal Health Challenge. This recognition positions California as a national leader in maternal health advocacy. However, Collins emphasized the alarming disparities faced by Black women, who experience maternal mortality rates two to three times higher than other ethnic groups. Despite comprising only 5% of pregnancies in California, Black women account for 21% of pregnancy-related deaths. The statistics for Hispanic and Asian women also reveal troubling trends, with rising mortality rates and reports of unfair treatment during hospital stays.

Collins urged for a collective effort to address these disparities, advocating for culturally aware healthcare providers and comprehensive insurance coverage. She stressed the importance of community involvement and the need for familiar faces in healthcare settings to foster trust and comfort during vulnerable times.

Assemblymember Bonta echoed these sentiments, expressing strong support for ACR 18, a resolution aimed at improving maternal health care access. Bonta, a mother of three, shared her personal experiences and underscored the necessity of quality healthcare for all, particularly in rural areas where access to maternity services is limited. She pointed out that systemic factors, including implicit bias in healthcare, contribute to the unacceptable maternal mortality rates, especially among Black and Indigenous women.

Both lawmakers committed to advancing legislation that ensures equitable maternal health care for all Californians. The discussions from this session reflect a renewed commitment to addressing the urgent needs of mothers and improving health outcomes across the state. As California moves forward, the focus remains on creating a healthcare system that respects and supports every mother, regardless of their background.