IV 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 536 
Expressing support for the designation of the week of July 19 through 
July 25, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week’’, 
and supporting the goals and ideals of raising awareness and under-
standing of maternal mental health conditions as they affect Black indi-
viduals. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 19, 2021 
Ms. BLUNT
ROCHESTER
(for herself, Ms. WILLIAMS
of Georgia, Mr. 
BUTTERFIELD, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. ADAMS, 
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. UNDERWOOD, 
Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. MFUME, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. MANNING, Ms. 
KELLY of Illinois, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. CHU, Mr. 
LAWSON of Florida, Mr. TRONE, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mrs. WATSON COLE-
MAN, Mr. CONNOLLY, Ms. BROWNLEY, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. 
SUOZZI, Mr. CARSON, Ms. STRICKLAND, and Mr. BOWMAN) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of the week of July 
19 through July 25, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Mental 
Health Awareness Week’’, and supporting the goals and 
ideals of raising awareness and understanding of mater-
nal mental health conditions as they affect Black individ-
uals. 
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•HRES 536 IH 
Whereas 1 in 7 White women and 1 in 4 women of color will 
suffer from a maternal mental health condition at some 
point during their lifetimes; 
Whereas maternal mental health conditions first present dur-
ing pregnancy or the year following childbirth or mis-
carriage, and include depression, anxiety, obsessive-com-
pulsive disorder, substance use disorder, and other condi-
tions; 
Whereas suicide and overdose caused by a maternal mental 
health condition are the leading causes of death for new 
mothers and contribute to the rising maternal mortality 
rate; 
Whereas non-Hispanic Black individuals are 3 times more 
likely to have a maternal death than White women in the 
United States; 
Whereas untreated maternal mental health conditions cost 
the United States economy $14.9 billion dollars each year 
due to productivity loss, preterm births, child behavioral 
and developmental costs, and other health costs; 
Whereas maternal mental health conditions impair mother-in-
fant interactions, causing negative behavioral, cognitive, 
and emotional impacts for the infant; 
Whereas untreated maternal depression during pregnancy 
leads to a higher risk of preterm and low birth weight de-
livery and infant mortality; 
Whereas many health professionals receive limited or no for-
mal training on providing culturally congruent maternity 
care in diverse communities; 
Whereas 50 percent of individuals with a maternal mental 
health condition never receive treatment, and Black 
women are less likely than White women to initiate treat-
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ment, continue treatment, or refill a prescription for a 
maternal mental health condition; 
Whereas best practices for the prevention and treatment of 
maternal mental health conditions include collaborative 
and culturally congruent group prenatal or postpartum 
care models; 
Whereas more research on Black maternal mental health out-
comes and care, existing State and other programs, and 
innovative maternity care models designed to reduce ra-
cial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes is 
needed to inform evidence-based treatments, promote pre-
vention efforts, facilitate early identification, dispel stig-
mas and barriers to care, and provide insight on illness 
causation and the effects of maternal mental health con-
ditions on infants and communities; 
Whereas, every decade, the Healthy People initiative develops 
a new set of science-based, 10-year national objectives 
with the goal of improving the health of all Americans; 
and 
Whereas addressing maternal mental health conditions are in-
tegral in reaching the Department of Health and Human 
Services’ Healthy People 2030 goals of a 10-percent re-
duction in the maternal mortality rate and an increase in 
abstinence from illicit drugs and alcohol among pregnant 
women: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of 
‘‘Black Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week’’; 
(2) supports the goals and ideals of a national 
week to raise public awareness and understanding 
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around maternal mental health conditions and their 
disproportionate impact on Black women and fami-
lies; 
(3) recognizes the need for culturally congruent 
treatment for individuals affected by maternal men-
tal health conditions; 
(4) acknowledges the need for further research 
on maternal mental health treatment models that 
demonstrate effectiveness in reducing racial and eth-
nic disparities in health outcomes; and 
(5) encourages Federal, State, and local govern-
ments, and citizens of the United States— 
(A) to support Black Maternal Mental 
Health Awareness Week through programs and 
activities; and 
(B) to promote public awareness of mater-
nal mental health conditions as they affect 
Black individuals. 
Æ 
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