First lady touts work on maternal health as Murphy’s term nears its close

Tammy and Phil Murphy headlined the groundbreaking of the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton on Tuesday morning, an $87 million project that will look to provide research and support to New Jersey mothers. 

With the Murphys looking to cement their legacy with just months left in office, the first lady said she hopes the center will help safeguard mothers and infants for years to come. Throughout Murphy’s time as first lady, a role that lacks constitutional responsibilities but not influence, she has focused on maternal health; indeed, she highlighted that work during her brief run for U.S. Senate in 2024. In 2019, she launched Nurture NJ, a statewide initiative focused on supporting maternal health. 

The new center, which officials called the first of its kind, will also aim to eliminate the racial disparities that lead to Black and Latina mothers experiencing higher rates of maternal mortality. The New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Authority will operate the center.

“Today, we break ground on the Maternal Infant Health Innovation Center, the heartbeat of Nurture NJ,” the first lady said. “It will save lives, raise standards, and show what’s possible when equity leads. Shaped by the voices of families and rooted right here in Trenton, this center will deliver care and collaboration like never before.”

Rutgers University, Capital Health, and the Trenton Health Team will serve as the center’s anchor institutions, according to officials. Rutgers Nursing leaders will oversee training and research alongside Mercer County Community College, Stockton University, The College of New Jersey, and Thomas Edison State University. Princeton University will support future research endeavors. 

The first lady touted New Jersey’s work at improving maternal health, saying the Garden State has jumped in national rankings, while acknowledging more work and research should be done.

“Just look at what we’ve achieved together: from 47th to 28th for maternal mortality, from fifth to second for infant mortality, from sixth to first in neonatal mortality,” she said. “That is collective commitment, and that is real progress.”

After the groundbreaking, the first lady was asked whether safeguards exist to ensure the program continues under the next governor, whether it’s Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill or Republican former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli.

“In all the times that Phil has delivered remarks and I’ve sat in the well, whether it’s the State of the State, whether it’s the budget, there is one moment when I see both sides of the aisle come together in support, and it’s on behalf of moms and babies,” the first lady told reporters. “Everybody loves moms and babies, and I can’t see anybody pushing against that.”

The governor expressed a similar sentiment.

“I think this is in the category that transcends any partisan politics,” he said. “This is about mothers and babies, and I can’t speak for the assemblyman, and I can’t speak for the congresswoman, but I’d be very, very surprised if folks don’t continue to pursue this aggressively, because it is the right thing to do.”