Title: A resolution recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2019, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution recognizes (1) the significance of April 11-17, 2019, as Black Maternal Health Week; (2) that Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity to raise national awareness of the state of black maternal health in the United States; and (3) that black women experience high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 154 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 154

  Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2019, as ``Black 
  Maternal Health Week'' to bring national attention to the maternal 
  health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing 
          maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 10, 2019

   Ms. Harris (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Wyden, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Brown, Mrs. 
  Feinstein, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Murray, Ms. 
  Duckworth, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2019, as ``Black 
  Maternal Health Week'' to bring national attention to the maternal 
  health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing 
          maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black 
        mothers in the United States are 3 to 4 times more likely than White 
        mothers to die from pregnancy-related causes;
Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life-threatening pregnancy 
        complications, known as ``maternal morbidities'', twice as often as 
        White women;
Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are--

    (1) among the highest in the developed world; and

    (2) increasing rapidly;

Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent 
        countries, in part because of the disproportionate mortality rate of 
        Black mothers;
Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than White women to deliver 
        prematurely;
Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across--

    (1) income levels;

    (2) education levels; and

    (3) socioeconomic status;

Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the social determinants of 
        health inequities experienced by Black women in the United States 
        significantly contribute to the disproportionately high rates of 
        maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women;
Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role in maternal health 
        care, experiences, and outcomes;
Whereas a 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;
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, treatment, and support before, during, and after 
        pregnancy;
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

    (2) 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, That the Senate recognizes--
            (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 
        disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in 
        the United States;
            (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality 
        among Black women are unacceptable;
            (3) that, in order to better mitigate the effects of 
        systemic and structural racism, Congress must work toward 
        ensuring that the Black community has--
                    (A) adequate housing;
                    (B) transportation equity;
                    (C) nutritious food;
                    (D) clean water;
                    (E) environments free from toxins;
                    (F) fair treatment within the criminal justice 
                system;
                    (G) safety and freedom from violence;
                    (H) a living wage;
                    (I) equal economic opportunity; and
                    (J) comprehensive, affordable health care;
            (4) that, in order to improve maternal health outcomes, 
        Congress must fully support and encourage policies grounded in 
        the human rights and reproductive justice frameworks that 
        address Black maternal health inequity;
            (5) that Black women must be active participants in the 
        policy decisions that impact their lives;
            (6) that ``Black Maternal Health Week'' is an opportunity--
                    (A) to raise national awareness of the state of 
                Black maternal health in the United States;
                    (B) to amplify the voices of Black women, families, 
                and communities;
                    (C) to serve as a national platform for--
                            (i) entities led by Black women; and
                            (ii) efforts on maternal health; and
                    (D) to enhance community organizing on Black 
                maternal health; and
            (7) the significance of April 11 through April 17, 2019, as 
        ``Black Maternal Health Week''.
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