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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 522 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 522

 Recognizing the role of father engagement in improving overall health 
 outcomes during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, for both the mother 
                               and baby.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2023

  Mr. Veasey (for himself, Mr. Allred, Mr. Correa, Ms. Crockett, Mr. 
  Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Payne, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. 
Thanedar, Ms. Norton, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Carson, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Carter 
 of Louisiana, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Brown, and Mr. Cleaver) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                         on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the role of father engagement in improving overall health 
 outcomes during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, for both the mother 
                               and baby.

Whereas a father is a supporting partner in a child's development as well as 
        during the preconception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods;
Whereas we recognize the importance of supporting families regardless of sexual 
        orientation or gender identity of either the supporting partner or 
        birthing partner is key;
Whereas increased father engagement can play an important role in--

    (1) improving maternal health and maternal mental health care; and

    (2) addressing maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in the 
United States and globally;

Whereas racial disparities in maternal and infant health in the United States 
        have persisted for decades despite continued advancements in health 
        care;
Whereas the maternal mortality rate in the United States has for many years 
        exceeded that of other high-income countries and continues to 
        disproportionally affect minority women;
Whereas these disparities have lasting impacts on the lives of the fathers and 
        children;
Whereas research has found that supporting families holistically, actively 
        including and engaging fathers in all aspects of maternal health care, 
        from preconception through pregnancy and the first year postpartum can 
        positively impact short- and long-term health outcomes, improving--

    (1) pregnancy and postpartum health--when fathers are involved and 
engaged, mothers are--

    G    (A) more likely to receive early and regular prenatal care;

    G    (B) at reduced risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders 
(PMAD);

    G    (C) less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs;

    G    (D) more likely to eat well and take recommended vitamin/mineral 
supplements;

    G    (E) more likely to follow physician's recommendations; less likely 
to experience complications during pregnancy and labor; and

    G    (F) more likely to have a healthy, safe birth, and more likely to 
succeed at breastfeeding;

    (2) a baby's health at birth including--

    G    (A) a healthy birth weight;

    G    (B) lowered risk of a birth defect;

    G    (C) lowered risk of extended NICU care; and

    G    (D) lowered risk of short- and long-term disability; and

    (3) a child's short- and long-term health and well-being including--

    G    (A) improving social, emotional, and cognitive development;

    G    (B) improving outcomes in school;

    G    (C) reducing rates of teen pregnancies;

    G    (D) reducing risk of substance use; and

    G    (E) improving future executive function and self-regulation;

Whereas a father's support during pregnancy can help promote cessation of 
        smoking, drinking, and drug use in the mother, all of which can lead to 
        low birth weight, preterm birth, birth defects, and an increased risk of 
        sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUIDs);
Whereas father involvement during pregnancy has been linked with a 36-percent 
        reduction in smoking in a mother;
Whereas a father's participation during prenatal care appointments provides the 
        mother with additional support to recognize potential pregnancy-related 
        complications that could lead to maternal morbidity and mortality, and 
        complications could include--

    (1) preeclampsia;

    (2) peripartum cardiomyopathy;

    (3) preterm labor;

    (4) perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD);

    (5) pregnancy loss or miscarriage;

    (6) stillbirth;

    (7) high blood pressure;

    (8) cervical infections;

    (9) gestational diabetes;

    (10) placental abruption;

    (11) ectopic pregnancy; and

    (12) uterine rupture;

Whereas 1 in 5 women experience a PMAD, with suicide being the leading cause of 
        preventable maternal deaths, and the added support of father engagement 
        can help to reduce the risk of a PMAD;
Whereas evidence shows that when fathers are involved during pregnancy 
        appointments and milestones, mothers are 1.5 times more likely to 
        receive prenatal care in the first trimester, which improves health and 
        outcome for both the mother and baby;
Whereas methods to empower fathers as advocates for both mother and baby 
        include--

    (1) addressing cultural beliefs about fatherhood and men's role in 
maternal health and families, especially those that discourage father 
participation;

    (2) addressing discrimination many fathers face related to their 
culture and racial identities;

    (3) addressing racism and bias in the health care system and inequities 
in health care access;

    (4) addressing structural and systemic barriers that prevent fathers of 
color from being active in the health outcomes of mothers and children;

    (5) peer-to-peer, father-to-father encouragement, support, and 
education in communities that traditionally aren't inclusive of fathers;

    (6) involving fathers in prenatal and postpartum care;

    (7) providing fathers with information about what to expect before, 
during, and after birth and how they can better understand and support 
their partner, as well as to help them bond together as a parenting team; 
and

    (8) educating and engaging fathers in conversations and guidance about 
mental health, breastfeeding practices, health care appointments, safe 
sleep, skin-to-skin child bonding, and early childhood development;

Whereas increasing outreach for fathers to join group prenatal care models and 
        attending prenatal and postnatal appointments can help in preparing both 
        parents and creates opportunities for parents to view pregnancy and 
        parenting as a team effort;
Whereas publicly available pregnancy and birth education help fathers access 
        accurate and up-to-date information about childbirth and properly 
        support pregnant people as birth partners;
Whereas a father's skin-to-skin contact just after birth and in the months 
        following birth has been shown to support and improve the health and 
        development of a newborn, improve a father's mental health, and foster 
        father-child bonding in the short and long term;
Whereas fathers are biologically hard-wired to be nurturers, and experience a 
        decline in testosterone and a surge in estrogen throughout the prenatal 
        and postpartum periods;
Whereas studies show that engaging fathers in conversations about safe sleep 
        guidelines can help increase safe sleep and reduce infant deaths;
Whereas providing fathers with guidance about infant crying and the risks of 
        shaken baby syndrome can reduce infant deaths;
Whereas a father's active support of breastfeeding greatly increases the chances 
        of successful breastfeeding, which improves the physical and mental 
        health of babies and mothers, and reduces the risk of SUIDs;
Whereas removing barriers to father engagement can encourage greater involvement 
        during pregnancy, delivery, and parenthood such as--

    (1) removing obstacles related to employment and loss of income, such 
as lack of paid family leave;

    (2) offering moderated father support groups and classes;

    (3) changing messaging about societal perceptions about fathers' roles 
in pregnancy and parenting; and

    (4) health care providers offering prenatal appointments outside of 
regular work hours, through telehealth or through take-home, father-focused 
resources;

Whereas intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause of maternal death and 
        fathers who are engaged in their partner's care and are invested in 
        their baby's health and development are less likely to engage in IPV, 
        and later, in child abuse;
Whereas 54 percent of pregnancy-associated suicide deaths involve IPV;
Whereas supporting paid paternal leave will guarantee both mothers and fathers 
        time to bond with their baby during the critical first months and a 
        foundation for a stronger father-child relationship and a healthier, 
        more successful life for a child; and
Whereas fathers who report close, nonviolent connections with their children 
        have fewer mental and physical health problems, are less likely to abuse 
        drugs, and are more likely to be involved in their neighborhoods and 
        community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the important role of fathers in increasing 
        positive maternal outcomes;
            (2) acknowledges the need to address structural and 
        systemic barriers that prevent fathers from being fully engaged 
        with the health of mothers and children; and
            (3) acknowledges that father engagement efforts provide 
        continuous physical and emotional support, which can contribute 
        to healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, healthier babies, 
        and successful postpartum recoveries.
                                 <all>
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