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  • 6/30/2025
During Senate floor debate, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) decried proposed maternal care cuts in the Senate GOP's Big Beautiful Bill.
Transcript
00:00Mr. President, in one of the richest countries in the world, we have maternal and infant mortality crises.
00:08In fact, we have the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations.
00:13Today, Medicaid is the single largest payer of maternity care in the United States,
00:19covering 40% of births nationwide and nearly half of the births in our rural communities.
00:25Obstetric units, particularly in rural hospitals, are closing at alarming rates,
00:32actually creating maternity deserts in this country.
00:37And a reason why? Low Medicaid hospital rates.
00:42To be blunt, now is not the time to be slashing the Medicaid program.
00:47My amendment would stop cuts to Medicaid used for vital hospital services, especially labor and delivery rooms.
00:55Leader Thune said it himself earlier today that Medicaid should be for pregnant moms.
01:00So, my colleagues, we have a choice.
01:02Do we stand for billionaires or do we stand up for moms and babies?
01:08For Democrats, the choice is clear, and I urge my Republican colleagues to vote yes on the motion to support families over billionaires.
01:16I yield back.
01:17For more information, pleaseil ichibrously.
01:18Thank you very much.
01:19His responsibilities areulated.
01:20Thank you very much.
01:21Thank you very much.
01:22Thank you very much.
01:36Thank you very much.
01:37Thank you very much.
01:40defendantrisis 1, B4-500, businessman IX included book reference.

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