Recognizing the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing mortality and morbidity among all women, and honoring mothers.

Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than doubled between 1987 and 2016; Whereas the United States is the only developed country whose maternal mortality rate has increased over the last several decades; Whereas of all pregnancy-related deaths between 2011 and 2015— (1) nearly 31 percent occurred during pregnancy; (2) about 36 percent occurred during childbirth or the week after childbirth; and (3) 33 percent occurred between 1 week and 1 year postpartum; Whereas more than 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas, in 2014 alone, 50,000 women suffered from a near miss Whereas 28 percent of women who gave birth in a hospital in the United States reported experiencing 1 or more types of mistreatment, such as— (1) loss of autonomy; (2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; and (3) being ignored or refused or receiving no response to requests for help; Whereas certain social determinants of health, including bias and racism, have a negative impact on maternal health outcomes; Whereas significant disparities in maternal health exist, including that— (1) Black women are more than 3 times as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White women; (2) American Indian and Alaska Native women are more than 2 times as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White women; (3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women with at least some college education are more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than are women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with less than a high school diploma; (4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are about 2 times as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity as are White women; (5) women who live in rural areas have a greater likelihood of severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women who live in urban areas; (6) nearly 50 percent of rural counties do not have a hospital with obstetric services; (7) counties with more Black and Hispanic residents and lower median incomes are less likely to have access to hospital obstetric services; (8) more than 50 percent of women who live in a rural area must travel more than 30 minutes to access hospital obstetric services, compared to 7 percent of women who live in urban areas; and (9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural communities are twice as likely as their White counterparts to report receiving late or no prenatal care; Whereas more than 40 States have designated committees to review maternal deaths; Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to comprehensively assess maternal deaths and identify opportunities for prevention; Whereas more than 25 States 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 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 women to report pregnancy-related medical issues; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this Resolution, referred to as the CDC (1) found in 2018, the maternal mortality rate was 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births; (2) found the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was more than double that of non-Hispanic White women at 37.1 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 14.7, and 3 times the rate of Hispanic women (11.8); and (3) while using a new standardized methodology to improve the accuracy of States reporting maternal deaths, still has potential methodological concerns with the reporting of maternal mortality data, such as the CDC report excluding mothers over the age of 44 and only accounting for deaths within 42 days of giving birth, potentially omitting later postpartum deaths; and Whereas several States, communities, and organizations recognize January 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day That the House of Representatives— (1) acknowledges the United States deeply troubling maternal health crisis and supports expedited Federal action on reducing the rates of maternal mortality in the United States, 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; (2) promotes initiatives— (A) to address and eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes; and (B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity care practices; (3) honors the mothers who have passed away as a result of pregnancy-related causes; (4) supports collecting better data on maternal mortality and morbidity; and (5) supports and recognizes the need for further investments in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful and equitable maternity care practices.

Summary: This resolution (1) acknowledges the maternal health crisis in the United States; (2) supports action and investment by the federal government and others to reduce adverse maternal health outcomes, eliminate disparities in maternal health, and promote respectful and equitable maternity care practices; and (3) honors mothers who have passed away as a result of pregnancy-related causes.