IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1022 
Reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 5, 2008 
Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mrs. MCMORRIS RODGERS, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. 
GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. DEGETTE, 
Ms. DELAURO, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. MCCOL-
LUM of Minnesota, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. NOR-
TON, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SLAUGHTER, and Ms. SOLIS) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad. 
Whereas more than 536,000 women die during pregnancy 
and childbirth every year which is one every minute; 
Whereas in 15 percent of all pregnancies, the complications 
are life-threatening; 
Whereas girls under 15 are 5 times more likely to die in 
childbirth than women in their 20s; 
Whereas nearly all these deaths are preventable; 
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•HRES 1022 IH 
Whereas survival rates greatly depend upon the distance and 
time a woman must travel to get skilled emergency med-
ical care; 
Whereas care by skilled birth attendants, nurses, midwives, 
or doctors during pregnancy and childbirth, including 
emergency services, and care for mothers and newborns 
is essential; 
Whereas the poorer the household, the greater the risk of ma-
ternal death, and 99 percent of maternal deaths occur in 
developing countries; 
Whereas newborns whose mothers die of any cause are 3 to 
10 times more likely to die within 2 years than those 
whose mothers survive; 
Whereas more than 1,000,000 children are left motherless 
and vulnerable every year; 
Whereas young girls are often pulled from school and re-
quired to fill their lost mother’s roles; 
Whereas a mother’s death lowers family income and produc-
tivity which affects the entire community; 
Whereas in countries with similar levels of economic develop-
ment, maternal mortality is highest where women’s sta-
tus is lowest; 
Whereas the United States ranks 41st among 171 countries 
in the latest UN list ranking maternal mortality; 
Whereas the overall United States maternal mortality ratio is 
now 11 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest 
rates among industrialized nations; 
Whereas United States maternal deaths have remained 
roughly stable since 1982 and have not declined signifi-
cantly since then; 
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•HRES 1022 IH 
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control estimates that the 
true level of United States maternal deaths may be 1.3 
to 3 times higher than the reported rate; and 
Whereas ethnic and racial disparities in maternal mortality 
rates persist and in the United States maternal mortality 
among black women is almost four times the rate among 
non-Hispanic white women: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) makes a stronger commitment to reducing 
maternal mortality both at home and abroad 
through greater financial investment and participa-
tion in global initiatives; and 
(2) recognizes maternal health as a human 
right. 
Æ 
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