In a recent visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock advocated for increased funding for the facility. The Biden administration’s budget proposal includes a significant increase of nearly $500 million to the CDC, with additional funds allocated for programs focused on violence prevention and immunization.
During his tour of the emergency operations center and insectary, Warnock was particularly interested in learning more about the CDC’s maternal health work. The agency’s budget request includes $118 million for programs dealing with maternal and infant health, an increase of $10 million from the previous year.
Warnock highlighted the maternal health crisis in the United States, where many women die during childbirth. He pointed out that racial disparities in maternal mortality rates persist in the US, with black women having higher death rates than white women. Dr. Debra Houry, CDC’s chief medical officer, emphasized ongoing efforts to improve maternal and infant health through collaboration on perinatal quality. She expressed her desire to expand these programs to reach more hospitals in more states to ensure that all individuals have access to safe and quality family care. Senator Warnock emphasized the importance of addressing high maternal mortality rates in the US, particularly in southern states where they are even higher than national averages.
In addition to discussing maternal health issues, Warnock also explored other areas of focus at the CDC such as violence prevention and immunization programs which are being funded by President Biden’s budget proposal.
Overall, Warnock reiterated his commitment to supporting policies that promote better health outcomes for all Americans while emphasizing on addressing specific issues like racial disparities in maternal mortality rates and expanding access to safe family care across states.