IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 289 
Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2023, 
as the sixth annual ‘‘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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 13, 2023 
Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. 
LEE of Pennsylvania, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. MOULTON, Ms. 
BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. TRONE, Ms. STEVENS, 
Ms. JACOBS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. SABLAN, Ms. 
STANSBURY, Ms. BROWN, Ms. PLASKETT, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. 
CLEAVER, Mr. COHEN, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. CARSON, Ms. 
BONAMICI, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. MENG, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, 
Mrs. 
CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, 
Mr. 
MEEKS, 
Mr. 
KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. NADLER, Ms. BUSH, Ms. OMAR, Mr. CARTER of 
Louisiana, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Ms. ROSS, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Ms. 
DAVIDS of Kansas, Ms. CHU, Ms. SCANLON, Mrs. MCCLELLAN, Ms. 
BUDZINSKI, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. MORELLE, Mr. EVANS, Mr. SMITH of 
Washington, Mr. ALLRED, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. 
GARAMENDI, Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. ESCOBAR, Ms. SLOTKIN, Mrs. DIN-
GELL, Mr. SOTO, Mr. CROW, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, Ms. SCHOLTEN, Ms. 
KUSTER, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. BALINT, Mr. BOWMAN, Mr. GOLDMAN of 
New York, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Mrs. SYKES, Mr. THANEDAR, Ms. LOIS 
FRANKEL of Florida, Ms. MCCOLLUM, and Ms. STRICKLAND) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and the Workforce, the Ju-
diciary, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
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•HRES 289 IH 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through 
April 17, 2023, as the sixth annual ‘‘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 2.6 
times more likely than White women to die from preg-
nancy-related causes; 
Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life- 
threatening pregnancy complications, known as ‘‘mater-
nal morbidities’’, twice as often as White women; 
Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are— 
(1) among the highest of any member country of the 
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop-
ment; and 
(2) increasing rapidly, from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 
live births in 2018, to 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births 
in 2021; 
Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mor-
tality rate among affluent countries, in part because of 
the disproportionate mortality rate of Black women; 
Whereas the rate of preterm birth among Black women is 
nearly 50 percent higher than the preterm birth rate 
among White or Hispanic women; 
Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black 
women span across— 
(1) income levels; 
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•HRES 289 IH 
(2) education levels; and 
(3) socioeconomic status; 
Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the social 
determinants of health inequities experienced by Black 
women and birthing persons in the United States signifi-
cantly contribute to the disproportionately high rates of 
maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women 
and birthing persons; 
Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role 
in maternal health care experiences and outcomes of 
Black birthing persons; 
Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth 
options, especially with regard to reproductive health care 
services and maternal health programming, is critical to 
closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; 
Whereas Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, 
and community-based organizations provide holistic ma-
ternal care but face structural and legal barriers to licen-
sure, reimbursement, and provision of care; 
Whereas COVID–19, which has disproportionately harmed 
Black Americans, is associated with an increased risk of 
adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal 
complications; 
Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted 
issues within the broken health care system in the United 
States and the harm of that system to Black women and 
birthing persons; 
Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention indicates that Black women had the highest rates 
of maternal deaths related to COVID–19 in 2020 and 
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•HRES 289 IH 
2021, at 13.2 per 100,000 live births, while the rate 
among White women was 4.5 per 100,000 live births; 
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, treat-
ment, and support before, during, and after pregnancy; 
Whereas Black pregnant and postpartum workers are dis-
proportionately denied reasonable accommodations in the 
workplace, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes; 
Whereas Black pregnant people disproportionately experience 
surveillance and punishment, including shackling incar-
cerated people in labor, drug testing mothers and infants 
without informed consent, separating mothers from their 
newborns, and criminalizing pregnancy outcomes; 
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 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 health care that is 
free from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of 
incarceration: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog-
nizes that— 
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•HRES 289 IH 
(1) Black women are experiencing high, dis-
proportionate rates of maternal mortality and mor-
bidity in the United States; 
(2) the alarmingly high rates of maternal mor-
tality among Black women are unacceptable; 
(3) in order to better mitigate the effects of 
systemic and structural racism, Congress must work 
toward ensuring that the Black community has— 
(A) safe and affordable housing; 
(B) transportation equity; 
(C) nutritious food; 
(D) clean air and water; 
(E) environments free from toxins; 
(F) fair treatment within the criminal jus-
tice system; 
(G) safety and freedom from violence; 
(H) a living wage; 
(I) equal economic opportunity; 
(J) a sustained workforce pipeline for di-
verse perinatal professionals; and 
(K) comprehensive, high-quality, and af-
fordable health care with access to the full spec-
trum of reproductive care; 
(4) in order to improve maternal health out-
comes, Congress must fully support and encourage 
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•HRES 289 IH 
policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive 
justice, and birth justice frameworks that address 
Black maternal health inequity; 
(5) Black women and birthing persons must be 
active participants in the policy decisions that im-
pact their lives; 
(6) in order to ensure access to safe and re-
spectful maternal health care for Black birthing per-
sons, Congress must reintroduce and pass the Black 
Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 (S. 346, 
H.R. 959, 117th Congress); and 
(7) ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ is an oppor-
tunity to— 
(A) deepen the national conversation about 
Black maternal health in the United States; 
(B) amplify community-driven policy, re-
search, and care solutions; 
(C) center the voices of Black mothers, 
women, families, and stakeholders; 
(D) provide a national platform for Black- 
led entities and efforts on maternal health, 
birth, and reproductive justice; and 
(E) enhance community organizing on 
Black maternal health. 
Æ 
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