Rep. Kelly Secures Critical Maternal Health, Clinical Trial Diversity Provisions and Community Project Funding in Omnibus Legislation

Rep. Robin Kelly.  ( Photo Provided by Robin Kelly)
Rep. Robin Kelly. ( Photo Provided by Robin Kelly)

 

Rep. Kelly Secures Critical Maternal Health, Clinical Trial Diversity Provisions and Community Project Funding in Omnibus Legislation 

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Representative Robin L. Kelly (IL-02) voted in favor of critical health care provisions and funded important community projects in the Second Congressional District as part of the fiscal year 2023 appropriations government funding package. 

“As our country continues to see troubling trends in the quality of maternal health care, I am happy that we were able to secure a permanent extension of the Medicaid postpartum coverage option. This policy has been a key priority of mine since I first introduced the MOMMA’s Act in 2018. While there is still room to improve this policy to benefit more mothers and babies, this provision is an essential step toward addressing the maternal mortality crisis that claims the lives of so many mothers, a disproportionate number of whom are Black and Indigenous,” said Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02), Chair of the CBC Health Braintrust. “I am proud that I was able to secure this critical policy win for mothers and continue to invest in the projects that the Second District needs to thrive. From creating jobs to increasing safety to tackling climate change, these projects will help to secure a brighter future for everyone in our communities. I enter my tenth year in Congress resolved to continue working for the people of the Second District with an eye toward safety, justice, and equality for all.” 

Congresswoman Kelly was instrumental in shaping two health care wins in the final 2023 government funding package: 

The current state option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage from sixty days to one year will be made permanent. Congresswoman Kelly fought to get this provision included in the American Rescue Plan, but it was set to sunset in 2027. Congresswoman Kelly’s bipartisan bill, HR 3345, the Helping MOMS Act, made this provision permanent. States who have extended Medicaid postpartum coverage will continue to have it, and other states can take up the option, indefinitely. 

The FDA will now require pharmaceutical companies submitting new drug, device and, biologic applications to the FDA to submit a diversity action plan for their clinical trial. This provision and others included in the omnibus are based on the DEPICT Act that Congresswoman Kelly co-led with Rep. Anna Eshoo. Congresswoman Kelly will continue to push for similar practices to be applied to the NIH. 

Congresswoman Kelly also championed funding for 14 projects that will directly benefit Illinois’s 2nd District residents.  

The twelve-bill government funding package will provide better health care, better jobs, and better opportunities for working families across America. The bill is currently headed to President Biden’s desk for his signature.  

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