III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 159 

Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2023, 

as the sixth annual ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national 

attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the 

importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black 

women and birthing persons. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 18, 2023 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. WARREN, 

Mr. PADILLA, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. 

DUCKWORTH, Ms. SMITH, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. STABENOW, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

MERKLEY, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 

Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through 

April 17, 2023, as the sixth annual ‘‘Black Maternal 

Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the maternal 

health crisis in the United States and the importance 

of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among 

Black women and birthing persons. 

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention, Black women in the United States are 2.6 

times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes; 


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•SRES 159 IS 

Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from lifethreatening pregnancy complications, known as ‘‘maternal morbidities’’, twice as often as White women; 

Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are— 

(1) among the highest of any member country of the 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and 

(2) increasing rapidly, from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 

live births in 2018, to 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births 

in 2021; 

Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent countries, in part because of 

the disproportionate mortality rate of Black women; 

Whereas the rate of preterm birth among Black women is 

nearly 50 percent higher than the preterm birth rate 

among White or Hispanic women; 

Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black 

women span across— 

(1) income levels; 

(2) education levels; and 

(3) socioeconomic status; 

Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the social 

determinants of health inequities experienced by Black 

women and birthing persons in the United States significantly contribute to the disproportionately high rates of 

maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women 

and birthing persons; 

Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role 

in maternal health care experiences and outcomes of 

Black birthing persons; 


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•SRES 159 IS 

Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth 

options, especially with regard to reproductive health care 

services and maternal health programming, is critical to 

closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; 

Whereas Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, 

and community-based organizations provide holistic maternal care, but face structural and legal barriers to licensure, reimbursement, and provision of care; 

Whereas COVID–19, which has disproportionately harmed 

Black people in the United States, is associated with an 

increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal complications; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted 

issues within the broken health care system in the United 

States and the harm of that system to Black women and 

birthing persons; 

Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that Black women had the highest 

rate of maternal deaths related to COVID–19 in 2020 

and 2021, at 13.2 per 100,000 live births, while the rate 

among White women was 4.5 per 100,000 live births; 

Whereas, even as there is growing concern about improving 

access to mental health services, Black women are least 

likely to have access to mental health screenings, treatment, and support before, during, and after pregnancy; 

Whereas Black pregnant and postpartum workers are disproportionately denied reasonable accommodations in the 

workplace, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes; 

Whereas Black pregnant people disproportionately experience 

surveillance and punishment, including shackling incarcerated people in labor, drug testing mothers and infants 


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•SRES 159 IS 

without informed consent, separating mothers from their 

newborns, and criminalizing pregnancy outcomes; 

Whereas justice-informed, culturally congruent models of care 

are beneficial to Black women; and 

Whereas an investment must be made in— 

(1) maternity care for Black women and birthing 

persons, including support of care led by the communities 

most affected by the maternal health crisis in the United 

States; 

(2) continuous health insurance coverage to support 

Black women and birthing persons for the full 

postpartum period up to at least 1 year after giving 

birth; and 

(3) policies that support and promote affordable, 

comprehensive, and holistic maternal health care that is 

free from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of 

incarceration: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that— 

2 (1) Black women are experiencing high, dis3 proportionate rates of maternal mortality and mor4 bidity in the United States; 

5 (2) the alarmingly high rates of maternal mor6 tality among Black women are unacceptable; 

7 (3) in order to better mitigate the effects of 

8 systemic and structural racism, Congress must work 

9 toward ensuring that the Black community has— 

10 (A) safe and affordable housing; 

11 (B) transportation equity; 

12 (C) nutritious food; 


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•SRES 159 IS 

1 (D) clean air and water; 

2 (E) environments free from toxins; 

3 (F) fair treatment within the criminal jus4 tice system; 

5 (G) safety and freedom from violence; 

6 (H) a living wage; 

7 (I) equal economic opportunity; 

8 (J) a sustained workforce pipeline for di9 verse perinatal professionals; and 

10 (K) comprehensive, high-quality, and af11 fordable health care with access to the full spec12 trum of reproductive care; 

13 (4) in order to improve maternal health out14 comes, Congress must fully support and encourage 

15 policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive 

16 justice, and birth justice frameworks that address 

17 Black maternal health inequity; 

18 (5) Black women and birthing persons must be 

19 active participants in the policy decisions that im20 pact their lives; 

21 (6) in order to ensure access to safe and re22 spectful maternal health care for Black birthing per23 sons, Congress must reintroduce and pass the Black 

24 Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 (S. 346, 

25 H.R. 959, 117th Congress); and 


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•SRES 159 IS 

1 (7) ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ is an oppor2 tunity to— 

3 (A) deepen the national conversation about 

4 Black maternal health in the United States; 

5 (B) amplify community-driven policy, re6 search, and care solutions; 

7 (C) center the voices of Black mothers, 

8 women, families, and stakeholders; 

9 (D) provide a national platform for Black10 led entities and efforts on maternal health, 

11 birth, and reproductive justice; and 

12 (E) enhance community organizing on 

13 Black maternal health. 

Æ 


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