III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 773 

Supporting the ideals of Bump Day to ensure, through advocacy, awareness, 

and action, that every mom, regardless of where she lives, the color 

of her skin, or her ability to pay, gets the care she needs to deliver 

a safe pregnancy and birth, and a healthy future for herself and the 

baby she loves. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 25, 2024 

Mr. COONS (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, and Ms. BUTLER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the ideals of Bump Day to ensure, through advocacy, awareness, and action, that every mom, regardless 

of where she lives, the color of her skin, or her ability 

to pay, gets the care she needs to deliver a safe pregnancy and birth, and a healthy future for herself and 

the baby she loves. 

Whereas Bump Day is an annual global campaign that celebrates beautiful bumps and healthy pregnancies while 

raising awareness about and calling for action to address 

the urgent need for better, more accessible, more respectful, and more responsive maternal healthcare, promoting 

healthy pregnancies, safe births, and healthy babies in 


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•SRES 773 IS 

the United States and ending the crisis of maternal mortality and morbidity; 

Whereas, each year since 2022, more than 800 women in the 

United States die from pregnancy-related and childbirthrelated complications; 

Whereas each year approximately 70,000 women in the 

United States suffer near-fatal complications or serious 

lifelong health consequences, including permanent disability, from pregnancy-related and childbirth-related 

complications; 

Whereas stillbirth affects approximately 1 in 175 births, and 

each year approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn in 

the United States, with many of those deaths considered 

preventable; 

Whereas 80 percent of all maternal deaths in the United 

States are preventable; 

Whereas women in the United States are more likely to die 

from childbirth-related or pregnancy-related complications than women in all other high-income countries, and, 

as of the date of adoption of this resolution, the United 

States is the only high-income country in the world where 

maternal mortality is increasing; 

Whereas 1 in 7 infants in the United States are born to a 

woman receiving inadequate prenatal care; 

Whereas nearly 7 percent of infants in the United States are 

born to a woman who received late or no prenatal care; 

Whereas pregnant women in the United States who do not 

receive prenatal care during pregnancy are 3 to 4 times 

more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications; 


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•SRES 773 IS 

Whereas Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women 

in the United States are 2 to 3 times more likely to die 

from pregnancy-related causes compared to White 

women; 

Whereas early screening for and management of diabetes and 

hypertension can reduce the risk of serious pregnancy 

and postpartum complications for both a mom and her 

baby; 

Whereas screening for, and treatment of, periodontal disease 

before and during pregnancy can reduce the risks of 

pregnancy and postpartum complications, such as 

preeclampsia and preterm birth; 

Whereas nearly half of all maternal deaths in the United 

States occur in the immediate postpartum period, with 

21 percent occurring between 1 and 6 weeks postpartum 

and 12 percent occurring during the remaining portion of 

the postpartum year; 

Whereas, according to recommendations from the American 

College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, most of the 

maternal deaths described in the preceding whereas 

clause could be prevented with increased access to and 

coverage for postpartum care as needed; 

Whereas 1 in 5 women in the United States experience 

perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘PMAD’’), with suicide being a leading 

cause of preventable maternal deaths, and untreated 

PMADs costing the United States $14,200,000,000 annually; 

Whereas intimate partner violence (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘IPV’’) is a leading cause of maternal death, 


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•SRES 773 IS 

and women are more likely to experience IPV during 

pregnancy than at any other time in their lives; 

Whereas untreated substance use disorders in pregnant 

women can lead to long-term, potentially fatal complications for the baby, including low birth weight, preterm 

birth, placental abruptions, and sudden unexplained infant death syndrome; 

Whereas doula support has been shown— 

(1) to improve pregnancy, birth, and postpartum 

outcomes; 

(2) to lower pregnancy-related and childbirth-related 

costs by lowering rates of cesarean birth, epidermal anesthesia, and other interventions; and 

(3) to reduce the impact of racial bias on pregnant 

and postpartum women of color; 

Whereas research demonstrates that midwife care contributes 

to better maternal health outcomes, lowers risks of unnecessary cesarean births and postpartum mood disorders, and reduces racial and geographic pregnancy-related disparities; 

Whereas incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women face 

heightened risks for maternal and infant mortality and 

complications, as well as maternal mood disorders, and 

should be provided quality, comprehensive care; 

Whereas the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in 

rural and other underserved areas in the United States 

is disproportionately high due to challenges in accessing 

the comprehensive, affordable, and quality maternal 

healthcare that all moms deserve; 


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•SRES 773 IS 

Whereas more than half of all rural counties in the United 

States do not have access to hospital-based obstetric services; 

Whereas increasing access to broadband, telehealth, mobile 

maternity care, home blood pressure monitoring, and information relating to urgent maternal warning signs 

could improve maternal outcomes; 

Whereas awareness of urgent maternal warning signs, symptoms during pregnancy, postpartum, prompt diagnosis, 

and treatment can prevent mortality and morbidity; 

Whereas the engagement and inclusion of a father in prenatal 

and postnatal care can improve maternal and infant outcomes; 

Whereas every expectant mom deserves the respectful, responsive care and support she needs to deliver a safe 

pregnancy, healthy birth, and healthy future to herself 

and her baby; and 

Whereas Wednesday, July 24, 2024, and all subsequent third 

Wednesdays in July would be an appropriate day for the 

celebration of Bump Day: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the goal of Bump Day of raising 

3 awareness about the need for improved maternal 

4 healthcare in the United States and globally, and of 

5 ending all preventable maternal deaths; 

6 (2) recognizes the critical role of health workers 

7 and the importance of growing the maternal health 

8 workforce, including midwives, mental health pro9 viders, and doulas, and of increasing telehealth and 


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•SRES 773 IS 

1 mobile care in achieving safe, healthy pregnancies, 

2 and deliveries in the United States; 

3 (3) recognizes the benefits of evidence-based 

4 group prenatal and postpartum care approaches; 

5 (4) recognizes the vital role that fathers and 

6 other supportive partners play in promoting the 

7 health and well-being of expectant mothers and 

8 newborns, including by— 

9 (A) supporting healthy pregnancies and 

10 safe births; 

11 (B) contributing to improved health out12 comes for mothers and babies; and 

13 (C) encouraging and supporting 

14 breastfeeding initiation and success; and 

15 (5) reaffirms continued leadership by the 

16 United States to combat preventable maternal 

17 deaths in the United States and globally. 

Æ 


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