IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1581 

Expressing support for the designation of ‘‘Prematurity Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2024 

Ms. MCCLELLAN (for herself, Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. 

KELLY of Illinois, Mr. ALLRED, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. 

BROWNLEY, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. CISCOMANI, Ms. CLARKE of 

New York, Ms. CRAIG, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. ESCOBAR, Mr. FITZPATRICK, 

Mrs. FOUSHEE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. HOYLE of Oregon, Mr. 

JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. KILMER, Ms. KUSTER, Mr. LAWLER, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. LOFGREN, 

Mr. MCGARVEY, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. RAMIREZ, 

Ms. SCANLON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. 

TONKO, Ms. TOKUDA, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, and Ms. WEXTON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of ‘‘Prematurity 

Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas the United States is in the midst of a maternal and 

infant health crisis, with nearly every measure of the 

health of pregnant women, new mothers, and infants living in the United States going in the wrong direction; 

Whereas the United States remains one of the most dangerous places to give birth among high-income countries, 


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•HRES 1581 IH 

and there are unacceptable disparities in birth outcomes 

for women and infants of color; 

Whereas women living in maternity care deserts and counties 

with low access to care have poorer health before pregnancy, receive less prenatal care, and experience higher 

rates of preterm birth; 

Whereas there have been an excess of over 10,000 preterm 

births among those living in maternity care deserts and 

limited access counties in 2020 through 2022; 

Whereas, while other countries have reduced their maternal 

mortality rates since the 1990s, the United States maternal mortality rate continues to rise; 

Whereas maternal health outcomes are getting worse and are 

driven by disparities, with Black and American Indian 

and Alaska Native women dying at nearly 3 times the 

rate of White women; 

Whereas 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; 

Whereas the number of women who experience pregnancy-related complications in the United States is steadily increasing, affecting at least 50,000 women per year; 

Whereas, approximately 383,000 babies were born preterm in 

2021, and preterm birth rates are at the highest level 

since 2007; 

Whereas prematurity is the leading cause of newborn death 

and disability among infants, including intellectual and 

developmental delays, behavioral problems, neurological 

disorders, chronic respiratory problems, and vision and 

hearing impairment; 


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•HRES 1581 IH 

Whereas preterm birth accounts for 35.8 percent of infant 

deaths in the United States; 

Whereas maternal health outcomes are getting worse, and 

Black and Native American women are 62 percent more 

likely to have a preterm birth, and their babies are twice 

as likely to die as compared to White women; 

Whereas the annual societal economic cost of preterm birth 

is an estimated $25,200,000,000; 

Whereas preterm births can be prevented through research 

and evidence-based public health programs focused on reducing risk factors, improving social determinants of 

health, and eliminating social and structural disparities; 

Whereas families face serious health risks and adverse outcomes while the health advocacy community fights for the 

health of all families by supporting research, leading programs, highlighting and addressing disparities, and providing education and advocacy; and 

Whereas November 2024 marks the 21st anniversary of 

‘‘Prematurity Awareness Month’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation of 

3 ‘‘Prematurity Awareness Month’’; and 

4 (2) calls on the people of the United States, in5 terest groups, and affected people to— 

6 (A) observe ‘‘Prematurity Awareness 

7 Month’’ with appropriate events and activities; 

8 (B) take an active role in promoting 

9 awareness; and 


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•HRES 1581 IH 

1 (C) encourage parents and communities to 

2 support preterm birth prevention programs. 

Æ 


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