IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 926 

Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2020, 

as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the 

United States maternal health crisis in the Black community and the 

importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black 

women and birthing persons. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 17, 2020 

Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. 

PRESSLEY, Ms. BASS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. 

SMITH of Washington, Mr. BEYER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. 

PAYNE, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. 

PLASKETT, Mr. GARCI ́A of Illinois, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. 

ENGEL, Mr. TRONE, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SPEIER, 

Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. SHALALA, 

Ms. MENG, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. OMAR, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Ms. MOORE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. MICHAEL

F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. LEE of California, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. 

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Mr. KENNEDY, 

Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CROW, 

Mr. COHEN, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. 

NEGUSE, Mr. RICHMOND, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. DELAURO, 

Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. PRICE of 

North Carolina, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. KHANNA, 

Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, and 

Mr. MCEACHIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through 


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•HRES 926 IH 

April 17, 2020, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to 

bring national attention to the United States maternal 

health crisis in the Black community 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 three 

to four times more likely than White women to die from 

pregnancy-related causes; 

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 of Black women; 

Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than all 

other 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; 


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•HRES 926 IH 

Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role 

in maternal health care, experiences, and outcomes; 

Whereas a fair distribution of resources, especially with regard to reproductive health care services and maternal 

health programming, is critical to closing the maternal 

health racial disparity gap; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic is disparately affecting the 

Black community and has further amplified existing 

health care inequities in the United States, exacerbating 

the Black maternal health crisis; 

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 

most impacted by the United States maternal health crisis; and 

(2) policies that support and promote affordable, 

comprehensive, and holistic maternal health care that is 

free from gender and racial discrimination: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog2 nizes— 

3 (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 

4 disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 

5 morbidity in the United States; 


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•HRES 926 IH 

1 (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal 

2 mortality among Black women are unacceptable; 

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

4 of systemic and structural racism, Congress must 

5 work toward ensuring that the Black community 

6 has— 

7 (A) adequate housing; 

8 (B) transportation equity; 

9 (C) nutritious food; 

10 (D) clean water; 

11 (E) environments free from toxins; 

12 (F) fair treatment within the criminal jus13 tice system; 

14 (G) safety and freedom from violence; 

15 (H) a living wage; 

16 (I) equal economic opportunity; and 

17 (J) comprehensive, affordable health care; 

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

19 outcomes, Congress must fully support and encour20 age policies grounded in the human rights and re21 productive justice frameworks that address Black 

22 maternal health inequity; 

23 (5) that Black women and birthing persons 

24 must be active participants in the policy decisions 

25 that impact their lives; and 


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•HRES 926 IH 

1 (6) that ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ is an 

2 opportunity— 

3 (A) to raise national awareness of the state 

4 of Black maternal health in the United States; 

5 (B) to amplify the voices of Black women 

6 and birthing persons, families, and commu7 nities; 

8 (C) to serve as a national platform for— 

9 (i) entities led by Black women; and 

10 (ii) efforts on maternal health; and 

11 (D) to enhance community organizing on 

12 Black maternal health. 

Æ 


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