take action NOW
Time-sensitive action needed during April School Vacation Week
Urge your State Rep to fund maternal health!
Massachusetts STATE budget: house edition
This week and next, members of the Massachusetts House are deciding what gets funded in next year’s state budget. Contact your State Rep right now to let them know we need:
Midwives,
Birth centers,
Mental health support,
Universal postpartum home visiting,
and more for maternal health!
(A detailed listing of each budget item is provided below the email form.)
It only takes 2 minutes to make your voice heard. Use our quick & easy form below. Add a brief personal message to help your email stand out!
Details about our slate of House Budget amendments:
Amendment #359 Midwifery Workforce Development Fund, sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, $500K - fund midwifery education and training for a growing and diverse workforce of midwives who are prepared to meet the demand for midwifery, staff new birth centers, and close access gaps
Amendment #1695: Maternal Health Law Implementation, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker, $4.3M - funds for universal postpartum home visiting, midwife integration, perinatal mood and anxiety digital resources and awareness campaign, fetal and infant mortality review, and pregnancy loss awareness
Amendment #353 Seven Sisters Midwifery, sponsored by Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, $100K - only birth center operating in MA (Florence/Northampton)
Amendment #553 Worcester Community Midwifery, sponsored by Rep. David LeBoeuf, $100K - new birth center in Worcester
Amendment #912 Neighborhood Birth Center, sponsored by Rep. Chris Worrell, $1M - new birth centers in Boston and Lynn
Amendment #1063 "Moms Matter Act” community-based perinatal support program grants, sponsored by Rep. Brandy Fluker Reid, $220K
Amendment #1716: Tufts Center for Maternal Health Advancement, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker, $500K - formerly the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice doing critical research, policy, and community engagement with local and national impact
Amendment #1427: CNM parity, sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Decker and Rep. Brandy Fluker Reid - no funding, but a policy fix to ensure that midwifery access passed in the 2024 Maternal Health Law applies to all MassHealth plans
TIPS:
Make sure you use your full street address for the most accurate legislator lookup; many towns are divided up into multiple districts.
Add a personal message (if you have time) to help your email stand out.
Share this action with household members, friends, neighbors, and family members anywhere in Massachusetts and ask them to take action too!