Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Signs Series of Maternal Health Bills

September 6, 2022

Dr. Michelle Morse, Chief Media Officer and Deputy Commissioner for Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Dr. Michelle Morse. I'm the chief medical officer for the New York City Health Department and deputy commissioner for our Center for Health Equity and Community Wellness. The maternal health bills that are being signed today will have expansive positive impact on health and birth equity in our city. They expand awareness of vital information and services that will empower women and pregnant people to better care and advocate for their health and the wellbeing of their families. I would now like to invite our elected officials to speak about the bills being signed. And first I'd like to turn the mic over to Speaker Adrienne Adams. Thank you, speaker.

(City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and City Council Members Farah Louis, Jennifer Gutierrez, Crystal Hudson, Julie Menin, and Althea Stevens speak.)

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Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you. And I believe all the important notes that were said. I want to thank the speaker and the amazing team of lawmakers who play such an important role. We all talked about it over and over again, about how important it is to deal with the disparities around maternal health and some of the challenges. And Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, thank you for what you're doing in Brooklyn around investing just about all of your capital dollars around this topic and making your legacy. And Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. The three of us are part of the men who gets it caucus. We understand we need to be here and be supportive. Council Member Farah Louis, Council Member Crystal Hudson, Council Member Julie Menin, Council Member Jennifer... I always butcher your name… Gutierrez. Thank you. Althea Stevens, Lynn Schulman, Mercedes Narcisse, a former nurse, this entire team. And so it's really not much more I can say but just allow my pen to sign the bills Intro 86-A, 49-A, 472-A, 478- A, 482-A, 490-A, 500-A. Great work coming together to make this happen. And thank you for doing this.

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