IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 874 

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2023 

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

KELLY of Illinois, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, and Ms. JAYAPAL) 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, 

and there are unacceptable disparities in birth outcomes 

for women and infants of color; 

Whereas each year in the United States, approximately 

350,000 babies are born to moms living in maternity care 

deserts or communities without a hospital offering obstetric care and without any obstetric providers; 


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•HRES 874 IH 

Whereas 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 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; 

Whereas preterm birth accounts for 35.8 percent of infant 

deaths in the United States; 

Whereas maternal health outcomes are getting worse, 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 reVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:56 Nov 17, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR874.IH HR874

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•HRES 874 IH 

ducing 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 2023 marks the 20th 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 

10 (C) encourage parents and communities to 

11 support preterm birth prevention programs. 

Æ 


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