Durbin Hosts Maternal Health Roundtable Ahead Of Mother’s Day Weekend

May 08, 2026 Durbin Hosts Maternal Health Roundtable Ahead Of Mother’s Day Weekend CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a roundtable discussion ahead of Mother’s Day weekend with officials from Cook County Health (CCH) to discuss maternal health initiatives that provide critical assistance to new and expectant mothers. “We lose hundreds of women every year to preventable pregnancy-related conditions,” said Durbin. “Supporting and investing in high-quality, affordable maternal health care, like the services provided by Cook County Health, is critical for mothers and babies. This weekend, when families across the country celebrate the mothers in their lives, we must also thank the people who keep those moms safe during and after their pregnancy.” “At Cook County Health, we are proud to approach maternal health across the full continuum through our hospitals and clinics, our public health department, and CountyCare ,” said Dr. Lauren Smith, Chief Medical Officer, CCH. “Healthy beginnings can shape a child’s health and development for a lifetime, and supporting mothers before and during pregnancy as well as the postpartum period can have lasting impacts across generations. That’s certainly something to celebrate this Mother’s Day.” The U.S. is one of only thirteen countries in the world where the maternal mortality rate is worse now than it was twenty-five years ago, and the U.S. is the only industrialized country with a rising maternal mortality rate. Durbin, alongside U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), have worked for years to address maternal health, first by introducing and passing components of their MOMMA’s Act , part of which was signed into law as part of the Inflation Reduction Act . More recently, they introduced the CARE for Moms Act , which supports the maternal health workforce, promotes access to prenatal and postpartum care, and provides the resources that moms and babies need to thrive. -30- Print Email Share Tweet