119-sres32

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 32 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 32

 Designating January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 January 23, 2025

 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mrs. Britt, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Welch, Mr. 
 Hickenlooper, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
 Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Designating January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

Whereas each year in the United States, approximately 800 women die as a result 
 of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth;
Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of 
 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than quadrupled 
 in the United States between 1987 and 2021;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-
 Agency Group, the United States is one of the only countries in the 
 world with a significant percentage increase in the maternal mortality 
 in 2020;
Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths that occurred in the United States in 
 2020--

    (1) approximately 25.7 percent occurred during pregnancy;

    (2) approximately 11.1 percent occurred during childbirth;

    (3) approximately 16.2 percent occurred 1 to 6 days postpartum;

    (4) approximately 20.2 percent occurred 7 to 42 days postpartum; and

    (5) approximately 26.9 percent occurred between 43 days and 1 year 
postpartum.

Whereas 83.5 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are 
 considered preventable;
Whereas, each year, as many as 60,000 women in the United States suffer from a 
 severe maternal morbidity, which includes unexpected outcomes of labor 
 and delivery that can result in significant short- and long-term health 
 consequences;
Whereas, approximately 20 percent of mothers who give birth in the United States 
 report experiencing mistreatment;
Whereas postpartum depression affects a significant percentage of new mothers 
 who give birth, with estimates ranging from 10 to 20 percent of mothers 
 who give birth experiencing depressive symptoms during the first year 
 after childbirth, but many postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed 
 and untreated, often due to a lack of screening;
Whereas various social and systemic factors can influence maternal health 
 outcomes and contribute to disparities in care;
Whereas significant disparities in maternal health outcomes exist in the United 
 States, including that--

    (1) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women is nearly 3 
times higher than that of White women;

    (2) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for American Indian and 
Alaska Native women is more than twice as high as White women;

    (3) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black, American Indian, 
and Alaska Native women with at least some college education is higher 
compared to women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with less than 
a high school diploma;

    (4) the rate of severe maternal morbidity for Black and Asian-Pacific 
Islander women is approximately twice as high as the rate for White women;

    (5) women who live in rural areas have a greater rate of severe 
maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women who live in urban areas;

    (6) 59 percent of rural counties are considered a maternity care 
desert;

    (7) rural counties with more Black and Hispanic residents and lower 
median incomes are less likely to have access to hospital obstetric 
services;

    (8) the average travel distance for maternity care deserts and rural 
counties is 28.1 and 17.3 miles, respectively; and

    (9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural communities 
are more than twice as likely as their White counterparts to report 
receiving late or no prenatal care;

Whereas 47 States and the District of Columbia have adopted the option to extend 
 coverage for postpartum care under Medicaid to 12 months;
Whereas 49 States, the District of Columbia, New York City, Philadelphia, and 
 Puerto Rico each have a formal maternal mortality review committee or 
 legal requirement to review pregnancy-related deaths;
Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to 
 comprehensively assess maternal deaths and identify opportunities for 
 prevention;
Whereas 49 States and the District of Columbia are participating in the Alliance 
 for Innovation on Maternal Health, which promotes consistent and safe 
 maternity care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality;
Whereas community-based maternal health care models, including midwifery 
 childbirth services, doula support services, community and perinatal 
 health worker services, and group prenatal care, in collaboration with 
 culturally competent physician care, show great promise in improving 
 maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities in maternal health 
 outcomes;
Whereas increasing the maternal health care workforce and expanding telehealth 
 services can help reduce the disparities in maternal health outcomes;
Whereas many organizations have implemented initiatives to educate patients and 
 providers about--

    (1) all causes of, contributing factors to, and disparities in maternal 
mortality;

    (2) the prevention of pregnancy-related deaths; and

    (3) the importance of listening to and empowering all people to report 
pregnancy-related medical issues; and

Whereas several States, communities, and organizations recognize January 23 as 
 ``Maternal Health Awareness Day'' to raise awareness about maternal 
 health and promote maternal safety: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health 
 Awareness Day'';

    (2) supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Health 
 Awareness Day, including--
        (A) raising public awareness about maternal 
 mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparities in 
 maternal health outcomes; and
        (B) encouraging the Federal Government, States, 
 territories, Tribes, local communities, public health 
 organizations, physicians, health care providers, and 
 others to take action to reduce adverse maternal health 
 outcomes and improve maternal safety;

    (3) promotes initiatives--
        (A) to address and eliminate disparities in 
 maternal health outcomes; and
        (B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity 
 care practices;

    (4) honors those who have passed away as a result of 
 pregnancy-related causes; and

    (5) supports and recognizes the need for meaningful 
 investments in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate 
 disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful 
 and equitable maternity care practices.
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