Advocacy Report: The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and the Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

On July 21, 2025, representatives from the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) engaged in targeted advocacy on Capitol Hill to promote the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. This initiative directly addresses a critical public health crisis in the United States and aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning health, equality, and strong institutions. The advocacy effort highlighted the urgent need for legislative action to mitigate preventable maternal mortality and reduce profound racial disparities in health outcomes.

Alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The core objective of the advocacy is to advance SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The effort specifically targets SDG Target 3.1: to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.

• The Crisis: The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations.
• Preventable Deaths: Over 80% of these pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable, indicating systemic failures in healthcare delivery.
• Legislative Solution: The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is a comprehensive legislative package of 13 bills designed to improve maternal health outcomes by addressing both medical and social determinants of health.

Addressing Inequalities: SDG 5 and SDG 10

The maternal mortality crisis disproportionately affects marginalized communities, making this a critical issue for SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The advocacy directly confronts the racial disparities in maternal health, a key component of SDG Target 10.3 (ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome).

• Racial Disparity: Black individuals are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts.
• Systemic Factors: The Momnibus Act seeks to address the systemic factors contributing to this disparity by investing in community-based organizations and diversifying the perinatal workforce.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Maternal health is a cornerstone of gender equality. By advocating for comprehensive maternal care, the initiative supports the empowerment of women and the protection of their right to health.

Legislative Action and Institutional Strength: SDG 16

The advocacy on Capitol Hill is a direct exercise in promoting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Lobbying Efforts for Responsive Decision-Making

In line with SDG Target 16.7 (ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making), NCJW interns held meetings to urge legislative action. The meetings included:

1. Office of Representative Wittman
2. Office of Senator Kaine
3. Office of Senator Warner
4. Office of Representative Amo
5. Office of Senator Reed
6. Office of Senator Whitehouse

These actions represent a crucial civic engagement process aimed at making governmental institutions more responsive to the health needs of the population.

A Holistic Approach: Connection to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The Momnibus Act recognizes that maternal health is interconnected with other socioeconomic factors, including nutrition. This aligns with SDG 2, which aims to end hunger and ensure access to nutritious food.

• Nutrition Programs: A key provision of the proposed legislation includes the expansion of nutrition programs for infants, women, and children, directly contributing to SDG Target 2.2 (end all forms of malnutrition).

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme is the “maternal mortality crisis” in the United States. It directly discusses the need for “equitable, comprehensive maternal care” and advocates for the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act to address high rates of preventable, pregnancy-related deaths.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Maternal health is fundamentally a gender equality issue. The article focuses on a health crisis that uniquely affects women and pregnant people. The advocacy for legislation like the Momnibus Act is an effort to strengthen policies that promote the health and well-being of women, which is a core component of gender equality.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article explicitly highlights the racial disparities within the maternal mortality crisis, stating that “Black people are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications.” The entire advocacy effort is aimed at reducing this inequality of outcome and ensuring equitable healthcare access and quality, irrespective of race.
4. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article mentions that the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act aims to “help expand nutrition programs for infants, women, and children.” This directly connects to the goal of ending malnutrition, particularly for pregnant women and infants.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.
   • The article’s focus on the “maternal mortality crisis” and the fact that the “United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations” directly relates to this target of reducing maternal deaths.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
   • The advocacy for the “Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act,” described as a “package of 13 bills,” is a clear example of promoting legislation to protect the health and rights of women.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
   • The article addresses the inequality of outcome where “Black people are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications.” The Momnibus Act is the “appropriate legislation” being promoted to tackle the “social causes that contribute to high rates of maternal mortality” and reduce this disparity.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

1. Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition… and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.
   • The article’s mention that the proposed legislation will “help expand nutrition programs for infants, women, and children” directly aligns with addressing the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women and their infants.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio.
   • The article explicitly refers to the “maternal mortality rate” as the core problem, citing the US has the “highest” among developed nations. This is a direct use of the indicator.
2. Implied Indicator (related to skilled health personnel): The size and diversity of the maternal care workforce.
   • The article states the Momnibus Act will “grow and diversify the maternal care workforce,” implying that the current state of the workforce is an issue. Progress could be measured by tracking the number and demographic diversity of maternal health professionals.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Implied Indicator: Ratio of maternal mortality rates by racial group.
   • The article provides a direct measurement of this indicator by stating, “Black people are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications.” Reducing this ratio would be a key measure of progress.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Indicator 5.c.1: Proportion of countries with systems to track and make public allocations for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
   • While not explicitly stated, the advocacy for the “Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act” and the mention of budget cuts to Medicaid imply a system of tracking public allocations. The passage and funding of the Momnibus Act would be a tangible measure of progress for this indicator.

Summary of Findings

Source: ncjw.org