This week is so important

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Dear {NAME}, As we observe Black Maternal Health Week, I want to take a moment to talk about this critical issue and why this week is so important to me. Despite global reductions in maternal mortality rates, preventable deaths related to pregnancy have been rising in the United States over the past two decades. This rise is driven by far higher mortality rates among Black mothers — who are three to four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes. The impact isn't limited to mothers we’ve lost. Communities of color face a disproportionate burden, with 70 women experiencing "near misses" or lasting health issues for every mother tragically lost. This is heartbreaking and unacceptable. There's no excuse, we can and must do better. That’s why I’m working to pass my Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act — thirteen pieces of legislation that provide the comprehensive resources we need to study and address disparities in access to prenatal care, supportive services, education, and more. [{NAME}, will you join me and the Voter Protection Project and split a donation to support our work to end our nation’s maternal health crisis? Your partnership means the world to us, and we are grateful to have you by our side.]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your split donation between Lauren Underwood and VPP will go through immediately: [CONTRIBUTE $10 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $25 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $50 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $100 »]( [Or a custom donation »]( Thanks to the hard work of many of my House colleagues on both sides of the aisle, the Protecting Moms Who Served Act was signed into law. This is a major victory for moms everywhere. But our work doesn't stop there. We're looking ahead to pass the next bill, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act. As co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I'm thrilled to share that we secured significant investments in this year’s federal funding bill to support mothers and address the national crisis. These funds will have a real impact, saving lives and making childbirth safer for countless families. We're making great strides, but our work isn't finished! Moms across America need the Momnibus now. They can't wait any longer. [Momentum is on our side, and now it’s time to keep pushing forward. So in honor of Black Maternal Health Week, will you join me and the Voter Protection Project and split a donation before it ends on April 17? Every dollar is an investment in the health and well-being of mothers and families across America.]( If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your split donation between Lauren Underwood and VPP will go through immediately: [CONTRIBUTE $10 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $25 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $50 »]( [CONTRIBUTE $100 »]( [Or a custom donation »]( As a registered nurse, this issue is deeply personal to me. I’ll never stop working to address this crisis with the urgency it deserves. Thanks for supporting us on this. Lauren Paid for by VPP ([www.protectvoting.org](#)) Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. [401 2nd Ave. S, Ste. 303, Seattle, WA 98104](#) The Voter Protection Project is on an important mission: To end partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression by electing candidates at the state and federal levels that are forceful advocates for voting rights. Our enfranchisement agenda includes working to ensure that every state has automatic voter registration and online voter registration, convenient early voting, and independent redistricting commissions to ensure politicians are not able to draw their own maps. Please, consider making a [one-time contribution by clicking here](. Or, to make the most powerful lasting impact and help us oust Republicans up and down the ballot who attack our right to vote, make a [monthly sustaining contribution by clicking here](. [Click here]( to request fewer emails. Click here to [unsubscribe](. [{NAME}: Pitch In Once A Month To Protect Voting Rights »]( [Donate Just One Time »](