[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 110 (Friday, June 23, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
                    BLACK MATERNAL MORTALITY CRISIS

  (Ms. KELLY of Illinois asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for Tori Bowie. Tori 
was once called the fastest woman in the world. She dazzled before 
international crowds with her remarkable speed on the track. She 
brought home Olympic medals. She was a role model for young Black girls 
who were just learning how to lace up their sneakers.
  Tori was just 32 years old when she was taken from us. She was 8 
months pregnant. She passed away due to complications that included 
respiratory distress and eclampsia.
  Eclampsia is a rare and severe complication of preeclampsia. Multiple 
studies have shown that Black women are disproportionately at risk for 
preeclampsia.
  Tori's story is unfortunately not unique. A Black woman can be well-
off, well-educated, and well-connected, and she is still more likely to 
die from pregnancy or childbirth complications. This is a crisis.
  Black mothers and babies are dying at intolerable rates. Every woman 
deserves the best quality of maternal care, no matter what they look 
like or where they come from.
  I urge my colleagues to honor Tori's memory by committing ourselves 
to ending the Black maternal mortality crisis. Action is our only 
option.

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