U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) this week introduced a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to address the nation’s worsening maternal mortality crisis among U.S. military servicemembers.
“As a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, I’ve had the privilege to serve alongside courageous women prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” said Rep. Stivers, “but they should not be forced to sacrifice their health and the health of their families.”
Rep. Stivers joined U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) to offer the amendment, which would prioritize ongoing efforts from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to identify, characterize and provide a deeper understanding of the maternal mortality crisis among females serving in the military.
According to information provided by Rep. Stivers’ office, the congressman’s home state of Ohio has reported women dying due to pregnancy-related causes at a ratio of 14.7 per 100,000 live births from 2008 through 2016.
And Ohio is currently ranked 26th as the worst state for maternal mortality, with the state’s preterm birth rate among African American women being 49 percent higher than the rate among all other women, according to the congressman’s office.
“I look forward to working with our partners, including the Department of Defense, to focus on long-term, effective solutions that get us closer to the ultimate goal of strong, healthy families,” Rep. Stivers said.