Republicans and Democrats might seem to have few things in common these days, but both parties in Virginia's legislature are hoping to support moms with a myriad of efforts during the 2025 legislative session.
“Every couple hours, you gotta pump,” Arlington Democratic Delegate Adele McClure said after she shared a photo of her pumping milk for her newborn on the House chamber floor.
“I have to make sure I’m both showing up as a delegate that represents 80,000 folks and also showing up as a mother who needs to pump,” McClure told Radio IQ. “Not only to nourish my child, but to make sure I’m not physically ill.”
McClure isn’t the only new mother who had to pump breast milk in Virginia’s capitol. Isle of Wight County Senator Emily Jordan was the first Republican legislator to give birth during her term. She nursed her newborn in lactation rooms between committee meetings.
“Just that moment to collect yourself with your baby, is here, and it’s a great resource to have,” Jordan said.
This General Assembly’s focus on moms comes just as Governor Glenn Youngkin, Senate President Louise Lucas and House Speaker Don Scott all aim to support mothers with new spending and legislation during the 2025 session.
For Democratic leadership in the House and Senate, it's a group of bills called the “Momnibus.” It’s made up of more than a dozen efforts that seek to provide care during pregnancy, birth and the time that follows.
Prince William County Delegate Candi Mundon King is one of the chairs of the Black Maternal Health caucus. A mother of three herself, she said many of the ideas for the package came from a Black Maternal Health Summit held late last year and from the Rural Healthcare Caucus that toured the Commonwealth last summer.
One of Mundon King’s contributions, with Senator Lucas carrying it in her chamber, is the creation of a Commission on women’s health policy. She said a lack of research and investment in women’s health issues demands the commission’s focus year-round. If enacted, they’ll develop policies and recommendations on a wide variety of issues: from menopause to cancer and issues for younger girls.
“Moms of all generations,” Mundon King said.
Another effort, patroned by Virginia Beach Delegate Michael Feggans, would create a pilot program for rural health units.
“Women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, are sometimes 50, 60 mins away from a hospital and that can be the difference between life and death,” Mundon King said.
Governor Glenn Youngkin has his own set of mommy priorities. One bill aims to increase the number of midwives by allowing those licensed out-of-state to more easily obtain licensure in Virginia. On the budget side he’s asking for $4 million to improve maternal health by expanding perinatal health hubs, and money to provide additional psychiatric and OBGYN graduate medical residencies to build up the state’s maternal health workforce.
Republican Senator Jordan has her own initiatives as well, including a bill that would create a maternal health coordinator post in each of Virginia’s 35 health districts. They would coordinate with moms before, during and after birth to help identify resources and catch red flags before things go wrong.
“Maternal health affects all women, the older the woman, the higher risks they may have, their medical history, there could be a number of reasons women need additional resources.” Jordan told Radio IQ.
McClure, meanwhile, has a bill that asks the state to help cover the cost of doula services.
“I don’t know how I would have been able to do 30 hours of labor without a doula and then, postpartum,” McClure said. “It's a very isolating experience.”
All this focus around motherhood isn’t necessarily new, but Fairfax Delegate Vivian Watts remembers when things were different when she became the 22nd woman to serve in Virginia’s state house. On her first campaign back in 1982, she had to make sure her constituents knew she wasn’t leaving a baby at home to go legislate.
“I had my family photos, everyone standing so everyone could see both my daughter and son were on their way,” Watts said. “But I was still criticized by voters that I needed to be home with the children, and I shouldn’t be here representing family life.”
Many of the bills are still working their way through committees before facing floor votes. And while the state enjoys a budget surplus, spending priorities are still being decided.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
Copyright 2025 RADIO IQ
