Washington, D.C. – Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today unveiled the Safe Motherhood Act for Research and Treatment or "SMART Mom" to help ensure that women’s critical pregnancy-related health issues are addressed. Dingell was joined by Representative Nita Lowey and Senators Tom Harkin and Barbara Mikulski in introducing the bill.

"As a husband, father of two daughters and a grandfather, I have long been aware of the importance of ensuring that women receive the best health care available," Dingell said. "Unfortunately, pregnancy-related complications that too often result in death or permanent illness largely remain the mystery they were before the advent of modern science."

One out of every three women who give birth in the United States suffers a pregnancy-related complication before, during, or after delivery, potentially causing long-term health problems or even death. In Michigan, 9 infants out of every 1,000 live birth dies from complications of pregnancy.

"It is crucial that we begin to unravel the mystery that surrounds the complications from pregnancy that are prevalent among African American women, which is particularly true in my home state of Michigan," Dingell said. "No stone should be left uncovered in our quest to improve all women’s health care."

To help address these concerns SMART Mom will:

• Develop improved and more accurate data collection and public health surveillance to help track and reduce pregnancy-related deaths and complications during and after pregnancy.

• Expand public health prevention, education and outreach so women have the information necessary to make wise, healthy, and informed decisions about their health during pregnancy.