Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
Rep. Kelly slammed his response as absurd.
“The American people are not falling for what you’re saying,” Rep. Kelly lectured Secretary Kennedy. “Your attacks on minority health, women’s health, LGBTQ+ health, and basic preventative medicine through illegal funding freezes and mass firing will lead to decades of consequences for all Americans. You have failed at your job and failed the American people.”
Secretary Kennedy claimed the country’s maternal mortality rate was improving.
Rep. Kelly quickly corrected him and stated Black women are still three times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related causes than white women. Secretary Kenned eliminated critical maternal health programs, like the Centers of Disease Control’s Safe Motherhood Initiative.
“You don’t have to show me the data,” said Rep. Kelly. “I’m the one who brought the issue [of maternal mortality] to Congress.”