Instructions, talking points and scripts for making your call.

What you are asking for:  “I am calling to ask Representative … to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 3352, the Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) Act

Talking points

• Far too many people in the US are suffering poor birth outcomes

• The U.S. spends more than any other nation – well over $50 billion a year – and yet both mothers and their babies have worse birth outcomes than in any other developed country

• These outcomes including high rates of death, preterm births and severe complications of pregnancy that have life-long adverse effects on health

• To add to these problems, there is a growing shortage of trained maternity care providers for people having babies in the U.S. Over half of our counties have no OB or midwife at all. This shortage increases the risks.

• Decades of research shows that midwives improve outcomes for mothers and babies and also reduce health care costs

• The Midwives for MOMS Act will allow the U.S. to train more midwives by funding midwifery education.

• More midwives mean better birth outcomes, lower health care costs and more providers to care for people having babies.

• In addition, this bill addresses the significant racial disparities in birth outcomes by directing resources to bring more midwives of color into the workforce and to schools that train students to practice in rural and urban areas with a shortage of birth providers

• “I ask you to urge Representative …. to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 3352, the Midwives for MOMS Act