; Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth options, especially regarding reproductive health care services and maternal health programming, is critical to closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; Whereas, communities of color are disproportionately affected by maternity care deserts, where there are no or limited hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care and no or limited obstetric providers, and have diminishing access to reproductive health care due to low Medicaid reimbursements, rising costs, and ongoing staff shortages; Whereas Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, and community-based organizations provide holistic maternal health care, but face structural and legal barriers to licensure, reimbursement, and provision of care; Whereas COVID–19, which has disproportionately harmed Black Americans, is associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal complications; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted issues within the broken health care system in the United States and the harm of that system to Black women and birthing people by exposing— (1) increased barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care, including maternal mental health care; (2) lack of uniform hospital policies permitting doulas and support persons to be present during labor and delivery; (3) inconsistent hospital policies regarding the separation of the newborn from a mother that is suspected positive for COVID–19; (4) complexities in COVID–19 vaccine drug trials including pregnant people; (5) increased rates of Cesarean section deliveries; (6) shortened hospital stays following delivery; (7) provider shortages and lack of sufficient policies to allow home births attended by midwives; (8) insufficient practical support for delivery of care by midwives, including telehealth access; (9) the adverse economic impact on Black mothers and families due to job loss or reduction in income during quarantine and the pandemic recession