WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) join Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce the Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act, bipartisan legislation that would utilize data mapping to show where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with lack of access to broadband services in order to help identify where improved access to telehealth services can be most effective.

“For many pregnant women in rural communities, local resources to support maternal health are strained. The closest hospital is often far away, putting the lives of mothers and their babies at risk. Telehealth technology can help track the health of mothers who don’t have easy access to routine checkups – but first, we need to ensure there’s adequate internet connectivity. I am proud to join Senator Rosen in introducing this bipartisan legislation to map broadband deployment data alongside maternal health outcomes and better identify where these telehealth services are needed most,” said Senator Fischer.

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The Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to map areas in the United States that have both internet service gaps and high rates of poor maternal health outcomes. Access to this critical information will help identify where improved access to telehealth services can be most effective, an issue of particular importance as U.S. women face startling statistics during pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), severe complications related to pregnancy, known as severe maternal morbidity, impacts over 50,000 women in the U.S. each year.