Advocate for Better Maternal Health Outcomes

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HB1130/SB35 is a maternal health bill that will require evidence-based practitioner relevant training for health care professionals on unconscious bias and cultural competency. This bill is currently sitting on the Governor’s desk and he must take action by midnight on May 17th.

Please email Governor Youngkin glenn.youngkin@governor.virginia.gov and copy his policy staff Jesse Lynch jesse.lynch@governor.virginia.gov. Kathryn Haines from Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy has included a sample letter below.

You may also wish to sign up for their newsletter, https://virginiainterfaithcenter.org/email-list/. This will ensure that you receive action alerts during the General Assembly.

Dear Governor Youngkin:

Please sign HB1130/SB35. At your maternal health roundtable, Lt. Governor Sears shared that she almost died in childbirth because she was not heard. When the moderator asked the audience what was needed to solve Virginia's maternal mortality crisis, multiple stakeholders specifically mentioned the need for implicit (unconscious) bias training.

The bi-cameral bi-partisan maternal health bills, HB1130/SB35 would require unconscious bias training for healthcare professionals. Senator Head, speaking to the bill on the Senate floor, said this bill will save lives. Signing this bill would make Virginia the first State to pass a bi-partisan bi-cameral bill requiring health care professionals to take an evidence based practitioner relevant training that includes an evaluation component.

Governor, I appreciate your focus on data and accountability to resolve Virginia's maternal mortality crisis. HB1130/SB35 is not a check the box bill. I urge you to sign this bill.Â