IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 522 
Recognizing the role of father engagement in improving overall health out-
comes during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, for both the mother 
and baby. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 16, 2023 
Mr. VEASEY (for himself, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. CORREA, Ms. CROCKETT, Mr. 
JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HORSFORD, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. 
THANEDAR, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. CARSON, Mr. BOWMAN, 
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. BROWN, 
and Mr. CLEAVER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the role of father engagement in improving over-
all health outcomes during pregnancy, birth, and 
postpartum, for both the mother and baby. 
Whereas a father is a supporting partner in a child’s develop-
ment as well as during the preconception, pregnancy, 
birth, and postpartum periods; 
Whereas we recognize the importance of supporting families 
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity of ei-
ther the supporting partner or birthing partner is key; 
Whereas increased father engagement can play an important 
role in— 
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•HRES 522 IH 
(1) improving maternal health and maternal mental 
health care; and 
(2) addressing maternal and infant mortality and 
morbidity in the United States and globally; 
Whereas racial disparities in maternal and infant health in 
the United States have persisted for decades despite con-
tinued advancements in health care; 
Whereas the maternal mortality rate in the United States has 
for many years exceeded that of other high-income coun-
tries and continues to disproportionally affect minority 
women; 
Whereas these disparities have lasting impacts on the lives of 
the fathers and children; 
Whereas research has found that supporting families holis-
tically, actively including and engaging fathers in all as-
pects of maternal health care, from preconception 
through pregnancy and the first year postpartum can 
positively impact short- and long-term health outcomes, 
improving— 
(1) pregnancy and postpartum health—when fathers 
are involved and engaged, mothers are— 
(A) more likely to receive early and regular pre-
natal care; 
(B) at reduced risk of perinatal mood and anx-
iety disorders (PMAD); 
(C) less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs; 
(D) more likely to eat well and take rec-
ommended vitamin/mineral supplements; 
(E) more likely to follow physician’s rec-
ommendations; less likely to experience complica-
tions during pregnancy and labor; and 
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(F) more likely to have a healthy, safe birth, 
and more likely to succeed at breastfeeding; 
(2) a baby’s health at birth including— 
(A) a healthy birth weight; 
(B) lowered risk of a birth defect; 
(C) lowered risk of extended NICU care; and 
(D) lowered risk of short- and long-term dis-
ability; and 
(3) a child’s short- and long-term health and well- 
being including— 
(A) improving social, emotional, and cognitive 
development; 
(B) improving outcomes in school; 
(C) reducing rates of teen pregnancies; 
(D) reducing risk of substance use; and 
(E) improving future executive function and 
self-regulation; 
Whereas a father’s support during pregnancy can help pro-
mote cessation of smoking, drinking, and drug use in the 
mother, all of which can lead to low birth weight, preterm 
birth, birth defects, and an increased risk of sudden un-
expected infant deaths (SUIDs); 
Whereas father involvement during pregnancy has been 
linked with a 36-percent reduction in smoking in a moth-
er; 
Whereas a father’s participation during prenatal care ap-
pointments provides the mother with additional support 
to recognize potential pregnancy-related complications 
that could lead to maternal morbidity and mortality, and 
complications could include— 
(1) preeclampsia; 
(2) peripartum cardiomyopathy; 
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(3) preterm labor; 
(4) perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD); 
(5) pregnancy loss or miscarriage; 
(6) stillbirth; 
(7) high blood pressure; 
(8) cervical infections; 
(9) gestational diabetes; 
(10) placental abruption; 
(11) ectopic pregnancy; and 
(12) uterine rupture; 
Whereas 1 in 5 women experience a PMAD, with suicide 
being the leading cause of preventable maternal deaths, 
and the added support of father engagement can help to 
reduce the risk of a PMAD; 
Whereas evidence shows that when fathers are involved dur-
ing pregnancy appointments and milestones, mothers are 
1.5 times more likely to receive prenatal care in the first 
trimester, which improves health and outcome for both 
the mother and baby; 
Whereas methods to empower fathers as advocates for both 
mother and baby include— 
(1) addressing cultural beliefs about fatherhood and 
men’s role in maternal health and families, especially 
those that discourage father participation; 
(2) addressing discrimination many fathers face re-
lated to their culture and racial identities; 
(3) addressing racism and bias in the health care 
system and inequities in health care access; 
(4) addressing structural and systemic barriers that 
prevent fathers of color from being active in the health 
outcomes of mothers and children; 
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(5) peer-to-peer, father-to-father encouragement, 
support, and education in communities that traditionally 
aren’t inclusive of fathers; 
(6) involving fathers in prenatal and postpartum 
care; 
(7) providing fathers with information about what to 
expect before, during, and after birth and how they can 
better understand and support their partner, as well as 
to help them bond together as a parenting team; and 
(8) educating and engaging fathers in conversations 
and guidance about mental health, breastfeeding prac-
tices, health care appointments, safe sleep, skin-to-skin 
child bonding, and early childhood development; 
Whereas increasing outreach for fathers to join group pre-
natal care models and attending prenatal and postnatal 
appointments can help in preparing both parents and cre-
ates opportunities for parents to view pregnancy and par-
enting as a team effort; 
Whereas publicly available pregnancy and birth education 
help fathers access accurate and up-to-date information 
about childbirth and properly support pregnant people as 
birth partners; 
Whereas a father’s skin-to-skin contact just after birth and 
in the months following birth has been shown to support 
and improve the health and development of a newborn, 
improve a father’s mental health, and foster father-child 
bonding in the short and long term; 
Whereas fathers are biologically hard-wired to be nurturers, 
and experience a decline in testosterone and a surge in 
estrogen throughout the prenatal and postpartum peri-
ods; 
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Whereas studies show that engaging fathers in conversations 
about safe sleep guidelines can help increase safe sleep 
and reduce infant deaths; 
Whereas providing fathers with guidance about infant crying 
and the risks of shaken baby syndrome can reduce infant 
deaths; 
Whereas a father’s active support of breastfeeding greatly in-
creases the chances of successful breastfeeding, which im-
proves the physical and mental health of babies and 
mothers, and reduces the risk of SUIDs; 
Whereas removing barriers to father engagement can encour-
age greater involvement during pregnancy, delivery, and 
parenthood such as— 
(1) removing obstacles related to employment and 
loss of income, such as lack of paid family leave; 
(2) offering moderated father support groups and 
classes; 
(3) changing messaging about societal perceptions 
about fathers’ roles in pregnancy and parenting; and 
(4) health care providers offering prenatal appoint-
ments outside of regular work hours, through telehealth 
or through take-home, father-focused resources; 
Whereas intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause 
of maternal death and fathers who are engaged in their 
partner’s care and are invested in their baby’s health and 
development are less likely to engage in IPV, and later, 
in child abuse; 
Whereas 54 percent of pregnancy-associated suicide deaths 
involve IPV; 
Whereas supporting paid paternal leave will guarantee both 
mothers and fathers time to bond with their baby during 
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the critical first months and a foundation for a stronger 
father-child relationship and a healthier, more successful 
life for a child; and 
Whereas fathers who report close, nonviolent connections with 
their children have fewer mental and physical health 
problems, are less likely to abuse drugs, and are more 
likely to be involved in their neighborhoods and commu-
nity: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the important role of fathers in 
increasing positive maternal outcomes; 
(2) acknowledges the need to address structural 
and systemic barriers that prevent fathers from 
being fully engaged with the health of mothers and 
children; and 
(3) acknowledges that father engagement ef-
forts provide continuous physical and emotional sup-
port, which can contribute to healthier pregnancies, 
safer deliveries, healthier babies, and successful 
postpartum recoveries. 
Æ 
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