Former Vice President Kamala Harris stated on Tuesday that any assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) translates to an assault on maternal healthcare. This was said as she joined Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit to gather support ahead of the upcoming midterm elections in November.
Harris made her comments during a campaign roundtable alongside El-Sayed and various healthcare advocates, with a focus on Black maternal health and the rising costs of healthcare.
“An attack on DEI, to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion, is fundamentally an attack on maternal care, especially concerning the need to safeguard Black women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care,” she asserted.
She highlighted the troubling reality that maternal mortality rates are significantly higher for minority groups, pointing out that Black women face a risk of death that is up to four times greater, while Native women are at three times greater risk.
Harris added, “One in 12 women in America currently resides in a maternal care desert, where access to essential services is either limited or non-existent.”
She then critiqued political figures who promote “family values,” arguing that the move to dismantle DEI programs detracts from essential support for communities during critical maternal health phases.
“Despite being one of the most economically robust nations, we also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally,” she remarked. “This scenario raises questions about disparities and a sort of hypocrisy among leaders who continuously advocate for family values.”
Additionally, Harris criticized former President Donald Trump’s healthcare legislation, dismissively labeling it the “Big Bad Bill.” She contended that the bill had slashed Medicaid funding, which is crucial for maternal care, with backing from former Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate nominee opposing El-Sayed.
Harris stated, “Medicaid is the biggest source of funding for maternity care in the U.S. Donald Trump cut Medicaid funding by a trillion dollars. These are facts Mike Rogers endorsed through that ‘Big Bad Bill.’
In closing, Harris reiterated her endorsement of El-Sayed for the Senate, citing his commitment to maternal health and expressing confidence that he would be a strong advocate in this area. “I’m here to support Doctor El-Sayed, because, on this issue, I know he will be a champion,” she expressed. “And I have every right to say that.”
