VIDEO: Rep. Summer Lee Presses HHS Secretary RFK Jr. on Black Maternal Health

(Watch the full video here)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - APRIL 17, 2026 - Today during Black Maternal Health Week, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) sharply questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing titled "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services", pressing him on the Trump administration's attacks on Black maternal health research, community-based maternal health programs, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives, and his alarming statements about re-parenting Black kids.

During the hearing, Rep. Lee pressed Secretary Kennedy on the devastating reality that Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, despite the fact that the vast majority of those deaths are preventable. She raised alarm over reported cancellations of NIH grants researching Black maternal health, the administration's proposed elimination of the Healthy Start program in its FY27 budget, and efforts to restrict how federal programs, schools, and institutions address racial disparities in healthcare.

"This is 'Black maternal health week,' so I'll start there," said Rep. Lee. "Secretary Kennedy, I'm sure you're aware that Black women are at least three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. The vast majority of these deaths are preventable. Black women in my district are more likely to die during pregnancy than their peers in 97% of U.S. cities."

Rep. Lee also pressed Secretary Kennedy repeatedly on whether educating future doctors and public health professionals about the Black maternal mortality crisis would be treated by his administration as "illegal DEI." She also challenged him on rhetoric and policies that undermine evidence-based public health and maternal care, including directives that discouraged the use of words like "Black" in funding applications and broader efforts to dismantle federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies.

"Your agency told programs to remove a list of nearly 200 words and phrases from their funding applications, including the word 'Black,'" Lee said. "How are we going to solve the Black maternal mortality crisis if we cannot say 'Black'?"

Rep. Lee's exchange with Secretary Kennedy comes as Black Maternal Health Week draws renewed attention to the racial disparities that persist across the U.S. healthcare system and the urgent need for sustained federal action to address them.

Rep. Lee is a member of the Mama's Caucus and has been a consistent advocate for addressing the Black maternal health crisis in Congress. In 2023, she joined House Oversight Committee members and Black Maternal Health Caucus leaders in releasing a new report on the maternal health crisis and access to midwife care, highlighting barriers to midwifery care and calling for greater investment in coverage, education, and workforce support. She has also strongly backed the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a comprehensive legislative package to confront the disproportionate maternal health risks facing Black women through investments in community-based care, workforce diversification, better data collection, maternal mental health, and other supports.

To see the full video, please click here.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, shehas delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania's infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.