III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 479 

Designating January 23, 2020, as ‘‘Maternal Health Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 21, 2020 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Ms. HARRIS) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating January 23, 2020, as ‘‘Maternal Health 

Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas, every year in the United States, approximately 700 

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 doubled between 1987 and 2016; 

Whereas the United States is the only developed country 

whose maternal mortality rate has increased over the last 

several decades; 

Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths between 2011 and 

2015— 

(1) nearly 31 percent occurred during pregnancy; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 479 IS 

(2) about 36 percent occurred during childbirth or 

the week after childbirth; and 

(3) 33 percent occurred between 1 week and 1 year 

postpartum; 

Whereas more than 60 percent of maternal deaths in the 

United States are preventable; 

Whereas, in 2014 alone, 50,000 women suffered from a 

‘‘near miss’’ or severe maternal morbidity, which includes 

potentially life-threatening complications that arise from 

labor and childbirth; 

Whereas 28 percent of women who gave birth in a hospital 

in the United States reported experiencing 1 or more 

types of mistreatment, such as— 

(1) loss of autonomy; 

(2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; and 

(3) being ignored or refused or receiving no response 

to requests for help; 

Whereas certain social determinants of health, including bias 

and racism, have a negative impact on maternal health 

outcomes; 

Whereas significant disparities in maternal health exist, including that— 

(1) Black women are more than 3 times as likely to 

die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White women; 

(2) American Indian and Alaska Native women are 

more than twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related 

cause as are White women; 

(3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native 

women with at least some college education are more 

likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than are 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 479 IS 

women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with 

less than a high school diploma; 

(4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native 

women are about twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity as are White women; 

(5) women who live in rural areas have a greater 

likelihood of severe maternal morbidity and mortality 

compared to women who live in urban areas; 

(6) nearly 1⁄2 of rural counties do not have a hospital with obstetric services; 

(7) counties with more Black and Hispanic residents 

and lower median incomes are less likely to have access 

to hospital obstetric services; 

(8) more than 50 percent of women who live in a 

rural area must travel more than 30 minutes to access 

hospital obstetric services, compared to 7 percent of 

women who live in urban areas; and 

(9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural communities are twice as likely as their 

White counterparts to report receiving late or no prenatal 

care; 

Whereas more than 40 States have designated committees to 

review maternal deaths; 

Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to comprehensively assess maternal 

deaths and identify opportunities for prevention; 

Whereas more than 25 States 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 servVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:13 Jan 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR479.IS SR479

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 479 IS 

ices, 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 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 women 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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates January 23, 2020, as ‘‘Maternal 

3 Health Awareness Day’’; 

4 (2) supports the goals and ideals of Maternal 

5 Health Awareness Day, including— 

6 (A) raising public awareness about mater7 nal mortality, maternal morbidity, and dispari8 ties in maternal health outcomes; and 

9 (B) encouraging the Federal Government, 

10 States, territories, Tribes, local communities, 

11 public health organizations, physicians, health 

12 care providers, and others to take action to reVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:13 Jan 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR479.IS SR479

kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 479 IS 

1 duce adverse maternal health outcomes and im2 prove maternal safety; 

3 (3) promotes initiatives— 

4 (A) to address and eliminate disparities in 

5 maternal health outcomes; and 

6 (B) to ensure respectful and equitable ma7 ternity care practices; 

8 (4) honors the mothers who have passed away 

9 as a result of pregnancy-related causes; and 

10 (5) supports and recognizes the need for fur11 ther investments in efforts to improve maternal 

12 health, eliminate disparities in maternal health out13 comes, and promote respectful and equitable mater14 nity care practices. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS