Title: Recognizing "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health care crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Recognizes: (1) Black Maternal Health Week; and (2) that black women experience high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 818 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 818

Recognizing ``Black Maternal Health Week'' to bring national attention 
   to the maternal health care crisis in the Black community and the 
  importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity 
                           among Black women.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 11, 2018

Ms. Adams (for herself, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Clarke of New 
 York, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Moore, 
 Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Payne, Ms. Castor 
   of Florida, Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Johnson of 
Georgia, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. 
 Grijalva, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Hastings, Mr. David Scott of Georgia, Mr. 
     Cleaver, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Ted Lieu of California, Mrs. 
     Napolitano, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Cohen, Ms. 
  Schakowsky, Mr. McEachin, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. McCollum, Mr. 
  Gallego, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
 Texas, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Crist, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. Beyer, Ms. 
 Speier, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Ms. Hanabusa, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney 
of New York, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, and 
Mrs. Torres) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing ``Black Maternal Health Week'' to bring national attention 
   to the maternal health care crisis in the Black community and the 
  importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity 
                           among Black women.

Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black 
        mothers in the United States die at three to four times the rate of 
        White mothers;
Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life-threatening pregnancy 
        complications twice as often as White women;
Whereas United States maternal mortality rates are the highest in the developed 
        world and are increasing rapidly;
Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent 
        countries because of the disproportionate death rate of Black mothers;
Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than White women to deliver 
        prematurely;
Whereas Black women are twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity 
        than White women;
Whereas high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across income 
        and education levels, as well as socioeconomic status;
Whereas racial disparities exist across income and education levels;
Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and social determinants of health 
        inequities experienced by Black women in America significantly 
        contribute to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality 
        and morbidity among Black women;
Whereas race and racism play an integral role in maternal health outcomes, care, 
        and policy;
Whereas fair distribution of resources, especially with regard to reproductive 
        health care services and maternal health programming, is critical to 
        closing the maternal health racial disparity gap; and
Whereas an investment must be made in Black women's maternity care and in 
        policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and 
        holistic maternal health care that is free from gender and racial 
        discrimination: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH.

    The House of Representatives recognizes that--
            (1) Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate 
        rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States;
            (2) the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality among 
        Black women is unacceptable;
            (3) Congress must work toward ensuring that the Black 
        community has adequate housing, transportation equity, 
        nutritious food, clean water, environments free from toxins, 
        fair treatment within the criminal justice system, safety and 
        freedom from violence, a living wage, and equal economic 
        opportunity;
            (4) in order to improve maternal health outcomes, Congress 
        must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the human 
        rights framework that addresses Black maternal health inequity;
            (5) Black women must be active participants in the policy 
        decisions that impact their lives; and
            (6) ``Black Maternal Health Week'' is an opportunity to 
        increase attention of the state of Black maternal health in the 
        United States, amplify the voices of Black women and families, 
        serve as a national platform for Black-women-led entities and 
        efforts on maternal health, and enhance community organizing on 
        Black maternal health.

SEC. 2. BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH WEEK.

    The House of Representatives recognizes the significance of ``Black 
Maternal Health Week''.
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