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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 32 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 32

  Designating January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 23, 2025

    Mr. Booker (for himself, Mrs. Britt, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Welch, Mr. 
 Hickenlooper, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Designating January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

Whereas each year in the United States, approximately 800 women die as a result 
        of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth;
Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of 
        pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than quadrupled 
        in the United States between 1987 and 2021;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-
        Agency Group, the United States is one of the only countries in the 
        world with a significant percentage increase in the maternal mortality 
        in 2020;
Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths that occurred in the United States in 
        2020--

    (1) approximately 25.7 percent occurred during pregnancy;

    (2) approximately 11.1 percent occurred during childbirth;

    (3) approximately 16.2 percent occurred 1 to 6 days postpartum;

    (4) approximately 20.2 percent occurred 7 to 42 days postpartum; and

    (5) approximately 26.9 percent occurred between 43 days and 1 year 
postpartum.

Whereas 83.5 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are 
        considered preventable;
Whereas, each year, as many as 60,000 women in the United States suffer from a 
        severe maternal morbidity, which includes unexpected outcomes of labor 
        and delivery that can result in significant short- and long-term health 
        consequences;
Whereas, approximately 20 percent of mothers who give birth in the United States 
        report experiencing mistreatment;
Whereas postpartum depression affects a significant percentage of new mothers 
        who give birth, with estimates ranging from 10 to 20 percent of mothers 
        who give birth experiencing depressive symptoms during the first year 
        after childbirth, but many postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed 
        and untreated, often due to a lack of screening;
Whereas various social and systemic factors can influence maternal health 
        outcomes and contribute to disparities in care;
Whereas significant disparities in maternal health outcomes exist in the United 
        States, including that--

    (1) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women is nearly 3 
times higher than that of White women;

    (2) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for American Indian and 
Alaska Native women is more than twice as high as White women;

    (3) the pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black, American Indian, 
and Alaska Native women with at least some college education is higher 
compared to women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with less than 
a high school diploma;

    (4) the rate of severe maternal morbidity for Black and Asian-Pacific 
Islander women is approximately twice as high as the rate for White women;

    (5) women who live in rural areas have a greater rate of severe 
maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women who live in urban areas;

    (6) 59 percent of rural counties are considered a maternity care 
desert;

    (7) rural counties with more Black and Hispanic residents and lower 
median incomes are less likely to have access to hospital obstetric 
services;

    (8) the average travel distance for maternity care deserts and rural 
counties is 28.1 and 17.3 miles, respectively; and

    (9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural communities 
are more than twice as likely as their White counterparts to report 
receiving late or no prenatal care;

Whereas 47 States and the District of Columbia have adopted the option to extend 
        coverage for postpartum care under Medicaid to 12 months;
Whereas 49 States, the District of Columbia, New York City, Philadelphia, and 
        Puerto Rico each have a formal maternal mortality review committee or 
        legal requirement to review pregnancy-related deaths;
Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to 
        comprehensively assess maternal deaths and identify opportunities for 
        prevention;
Whereas 49 States and the District of Columbia are participating in the Alliance 
        for Innovation on Maternal Health, which promotes consistent and safe 
        maternity care to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality;
Whereas community-based maternal health care models, including midwifery 
        childbirth services, doula support services, community and perinatal 
        health worker services, and group prenatal care, in collaboration with 
        culturally competent physician care, show great promise in improving 
        maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities in maternal health 
        outcomes;
Whereas increasing the maternal health care workforce and expanding telehealth 
        services can help reduce the disparities in maternal health outcomes;
Whereas many organizations have implemented initiatives to educate patients and 
        providers about--

    (1) all causes of, contributing factors to, and disparities in maternal 
mortality;

    (2) the prevention of pregnancy-related deaths; and

    (3) the importance of listening to and empowering all people to report 
pregnancy-related medical issues; and

Whereas several States, communities, and organizations recognize January 23 as 
        ``Maternal Health Awareness Day'' to raise awareness about maternal 
        health and promote maternal safety: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates January 23, 2025, as ``Maternal Health 
        Awareness Day'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Health 
        Awareness Day, including--
                    (A) raising public awareness about maternal 
                mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparities in 
                maternal health outcomes; and
                    (B) encouraging the Federal Government, States, 
                territories, Tribes, local communities, public health 
                organizations, physicians, health care providers, and 
                others to take action to reduce adverse maternal health 
                outcomes and improve maternal safety;
            (3) promotes initiatives--
                    (A) to address and eliminate disparities in 
                maternal health outcomes; and
                    (B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity 
                care practices;
            (4) honors those who have passed away as a result of 
        pregnancy-related causes; and
            (5) supports and recognizes the need for meaningful 
        investments in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate 
        disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful 
        and equitable maternity care practices.
                                 <all>
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