III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 459 

Recognizing ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to 

the maternal health care crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity among 

Black women. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 11, 2018 

Ms. HARRIS (for herself, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. WARREN, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. WYDEN, and Mr. BLUMENTHAL) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the maternal health care crisis in 

the Black community and the importance of reducing 

the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity among 

Black women. 

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, Black mothers in the United States die at 3 

to 4 times the rate of White mothers; 

Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from lifethreatening pregnancy complications twice as often as 

White women; 


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•SRES 459 IS 

Whereas United States maternal mortality rates are the highest in the developed world and are increasing rapidly; 

Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent countries because of the disproportionate death rate of Black mothers; 

Whereas the premature delivery rate among Black women is 

49 percent higher than the rate among all other women; 

Whereas Black women are twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity than White women; 

Whereas high rates of maternal mortality among Black 

women span across income and education levels, as well 

as socioeconomic status; 

Whereas racial disparities exist across income and education 

levels; 

Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and social determinants of health inequities experienced by Black 

women in the United States significantly contribute to 

the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality 

and morbidity among Black women; 

Whereas race and racism play an integral role in maternal 

health outcomes, care, and policy; 

Whereas fair distribution of resources, especially with regard 

to reproductive health care services and maternal health 

programming, is critical to closing the maternal health 

racial disparity gap; and 

Whereas an investment must be made in Black women’s maternity care and in policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and holistic maternal health 

care that is free from gender and racial discrimination: 

Now, therefore, be it 


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•SRES 459 IS 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes— 

2 (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 

3 disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 

4 morbidity in the United States; 

5 (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal 

6 mortality among Black women is unacceptable; 

7 (3) that Congress must work toward ensuring 

8 that the Black community has adequate housing, 

9 transportation equity, nutritious food, clean water, 

10 environments free from toxins, fair treatment within 

11 the criminal justice system, safety and freedom from 

12 violence, a living wage, and equal economic oppor13 tunity; 

14 (4) that in order to improve maternal health 

15 outcomes, Congress must fully support and encour16 age policies grounded in the human rights frame17 work that addresses Black maternal health inequity; 

18 (5) that Black women must be active partici19 pants in the policy decisions that impact their lives; 

20 (6) that ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ is an 

21 opportunity to increase attention of the state of 

22 Black maternal health in the United States, amplify 

23 the voices of Black women and families, serve as a 

24 national platform for Black-women-led entities and 


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•SRES 459 IS 

1 efforts on maternal health, and enhance community 

2 organizing on Black maternal health; and 

3 (7) the significance of April 11 through 17, 

4 2018, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’. 

Æ 


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