This weekend on In Focus, Marisa Jacques, filling in for JoDee Kenney, sits down with State Senator Lea Webb for a conversation on women’s health. Webb talked about her history in activism in the Southern Tier, and her interest in health care policy, having earned a degree in neuroscience at Binghamton University. Before being elected to the Senate, Webb served as the first Black Binghamton City Council Member. The senator talked about her work in helping women enter the field of politics, to bring their experiences and passion to the electoral process.

Webb also discussed her work in policy to improve maternal outcomes. Data from the New York State Department of Health shows Black women are five times more likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause than white women, and Webb said she is sponsoring legislation to reverse that trend. One bill would expand access to doula services for Medicaid recipients, that Webb said would provide support and education during pregnancy and birth, as well as post-partum. The senator also talked about a bill requiring a reproductive health equity assessment as part of the approval process for hospital mergers. Webb discussed a piece of legislation that would provide further protections for reproductive health practitioners from facing prosecution in other states.

You can watch part two of the interview with State Senator Lea Webb in the video player above. Part one can be found here. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.