Capps to Lead Bipartisan Women’s Caucus Congressional Delegation to Represent United States at Women Deliver Conference in London

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release from U.S. House of Representatives

Contact: Emily Kryder
October 16, 2007 202-226-7747 office
202-225-6513 cell

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Lois Capps, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, will lead a bipartisan Congressional delegation in representing the United States at the Women Deliver Global Conference on Maternal Mortality. The delegation members, Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis, Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Congresswoman Donna Christensen,Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, and Congresswoman Candice Miller will join more than 1500 world leaders--including cabinet ministers, heads of United Nations and other multilateral agencies, senior government officials, health professionals, researchers, economists, and reproductive health advocates- in a historic conference in London from October 18-20. Conference participants are meeting in an effort to reduce the 500,000 deaths that occur annually due to pregnancy and childbirth.

Despite advances in medical care and technology around the world, motherhood remains a risky endeavour that results in millions of tragic deaths annually. These fatalities are a major factor in persistent global poverty, yet many of these needless deaths could be prevented with effective, low-cost investments in preventive health care and education. The Women Deliver Conference participants will examine strategies to improve how health information and care are funded and provided as well as address other important issues for women including poverty reduction, women's human rights, and economic development.