III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 153 

Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as ‘‘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 13, 2021 

Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. 

DURBIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

WARNOCK, Mr. PETERS, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. 

KAINE, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BENNET, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, and Ms. ROSEN) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, 

as ‘‘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 to 

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


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•SRES 153 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 in the developed world; and 

(2) increasing rapidly; 

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

the disproportionate mortality rate among Black women; 

Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than White 

women to deliver prematurely; 

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 in the United States significantly contribute to 

the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality 

and morbidity among Black women; 

Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role 

in the maternal healthcare experiences and outcomes of 

Black birthing people; 

Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth 

options, especially with regard to reproductive healthcare 

services and maternal health programming, are critical to 

closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted 

issues within the broken healthcare system in the United 


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•SRES 153 IS 

States and the harm of that system to Black women and 

birthing persons by exposing— 

(1) increased barriers to accessing prenatal and 

postpartum care, including maternal mental healthcare; 

(2) the lack of uniform hospital policies permitting 

doulas and support persons to be present during labor 

and delivery; 

(3) inconsistent hospital policies regarding the separation of the newborn from a mother that is suspected 

positive for COVID–19; 

(4) complexities in COVID–19 vaccine and therapeutics trials including pregnant and lactating people; 

(5) increased rates of caesarean section deliveries; 

(6) shortened hospital stays following delivery; 

(7) provider shortages and lack of sufficient policies 

to allow home births attended by midwives; 

(8) insufficient practical support for delivery of care 

by midwives, including telehealth access; 

(9) adverse economic impact on Black mothers and 

families due to job loss or reduction in income during 

quarantine and the pandemic recession; and 

(10) pervasive racial injustice against Black people 

in the criminal justice, social, and healthcare systems; 

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 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 


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•SRES 153 IS 

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 healthcare that is 

free from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of 

incarceration: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate recognizes— 

2 (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 

3 disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 

4 morbidity in the United States; 

5 (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal 

6 mortality and morbidity among Black women are 

7 unacceptable; 

8 (3) that, in order to better mitigate the effects 

9 of systemic and structural racism, Congress must 

10 work toward ensuring that the Black community 

11 has— 

12 (A) safe and affordable housing; 

13 (B) transportation equity; 

14 (C) nutritious food; 

15 (D) clean air and water; 

16 (E) environments free from toxins; 

17 (F) fair treatment within the criminal jus18 tice system; 


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•SRES 153 IS 

1 (G) safety and freedom from violence; 

2 (H) a living wage; 

3 (I) equal economic opportunity; 

4 (J) a sustained workforce pipeline for di5 verse perinatal professionals; and 

6 (K) comprehensive, quality, and affordable 

7 healthcare with access to the full spectrum of 

8 reproductive care; 

9 (4) that, in order to improve maternal health 

10 outcomes, Congress must fully support and encour11 age policies grounded in the human rights and re12 productive justice frameworks that address Black 

13 maternal health inequity; 

14 (5) that Black women and birthing persons 

15 must be active participants in the policy decisions 

16 that impact their lives; 

17 (6) that, in order to ensure access to safe and 

18 respectful maternal healthcare for Black women and 

19 birthing persons, Congress must pass the Black Ma20 ternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021; 

21 (7) that Black Maternal Health Week is an op22 portunity to— 

23 (A) raise national awareness of the state of 

24 Black maternal health in the United States; 


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1 (B) amplify the voices of Black women and 

2 birthing persons, families, and communities; 

3 (C) serve as a national platform for— 

4 (i) entities led by Black women; and 

5 (ii) efforts on maternal health; and 

6 (D) enhance community organizing on 

7 Black maternal health; and 

8 (8) the significance of April 11 through April 

9 17, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’. 

Æ 


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