Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) and Rep. Robin Kelly (IL) lead a congressional call to HHS and the CDC to restore PRAMS, a critical maternal health data system, after its suspension threatens nationwide tracking of pregnancy-related health outcomes.
Senator Booker Leads Urgent Congressional Push to Restore Suspended Maternal Health Data Program Critical to Tracking Pregnancy Outcomes in NJ and Nationwide
In the latest push to safeguard maternal and infant health across the United States, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) are leading a growing coalition of lawmakers demanding accountability and action after the unexpected suspension of a key federal health monitoring program.
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a CDC-led initiative that for nearly four decades has been the nation’s primary source for consistent, standardized data on maternal health, was quietly halted earlier this year. Now, the program’s disappearance has sparked widespread concern among public health officials, researchers, and lawmakers who say the loss of this resource could significantly harm efforts to address the U.S.’s growing maternal health crisis.
In a formal letter sent to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senator Booker and Representative Kelly detailed their deepening concerns following new reports that all CDC staff associated with PRAMS have been laid off, further threatening the future of the program.
“We have an ongoing maternal health crisis marked by rising mortality rates and barriers to access to quality care,” the lawmakers wrote. “The absence of PRAMS jeopardizes the nation’s ability to monitor maternal and infant health trends and inform both broad programs and policies to improve maternal and child health.”
Why PRAMS Matters—Especially for States Like New Jersey
Established in 1987, PRAMS has served as the federal government’s only source of population-level, standardized data tracking the lived experiences of people before, during, and after pregnancy. From access to prenatal care to postpartum support, PRAMS data has informed everything from hospital protocols to community health grants.
For states like New Jersey—which has worked in recent years to address stark racial disparities in maternal outcomes and improve access to maternal care—PRAMS has been an indispensable tool for measuring progress and identifying gaps. Without it, public health leaders are effectively flying blind.
Booker and Kelly’s renewed push follows their initial March 12, 2025 letter to CDC Acting Director Susan Monarez, which went unanswered. Since then, an April 1 report from STAT News confirmed what many feared: the CDC had eliminated all PRAMS program staff.
A Setback at the Worst Possible Time
The suspension couldn’t come at a more precarious moment. The U.S. continues to face some of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, particularly for Black and Indigenous women. Programs and policies aimed at turning those numbers around depend heavily on access to real-time, localized data—exactly the type of insight PRAMS provides.
In their letter to Secretary Kennedy, the lawmakers outlined urgent questions:
- Why were PRAMS staff terminated?
- Was the decision part of a broader CDC restructuring?
- Were states informed in advance of the program’s suspension?
- Is PRAMS currently collecting data at any level, and if not, when will it resume?
- What plans exist to rehire or replace staff and restore program funding?
The lawmakers made clear that restoring PRAMS in full is not a request—it’s a necessity.
Who’s Backing the Push
The effort is supported by a robust group of Democratic lawmakers deeply invested in maternal and infant health. Co-signers include Senators Tammy Duckworth (IL), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Amy Klobuchar (MN), and Ron Wyden (OR), alongside Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Alma Adams (NC), Mike Quigley (IL), Yvette Clark (NY), LaMonica McIver (NJ), and more.
Their collective message: The shutdown of PRAMS is a dangerous step backward at a time when more transparency, data, and targeted public health strategies are needed—not fewer.
What Happens Next
Lawmakers are demanding a formal response from HHS and the CDC, not only to the concerns raised this month, but also to their original March 12 correspondence. In the meantime, researchers and state health departments are left without critical data tools, and maternal health advocates are sounding alarms about the ripple effects of this data blackout.
As the call to action gains momentum, New Jersey’s own Senator Booker continues to center the conversation on equity, science, and the well-being of families—not just in his home state, but nationwide.
“We need to invest in better outcomes, not back away from them,” said a spokesperson from Booker’s office. “PRAMS must be restored, and the public deserves answers now.”
Stay updated on this developing issue and learn more about New Jersey’s efforts to improve maternal and infant health at nj.gov/health.