Title: Recognizing the roles and the contributions of United States certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives in providing high-quality, evidence-based, and cost-effective health care services to women and childbearing families.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution recognizes National Midwifery Week and the contributions of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1419 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1419

Recognizing the roles and the contributions of United States certified 
   nurse-midwives and certified midwives in providing high-quality, 
 evidence-based, and cost-effective health care services to women and 
                         childbearing families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 30, 2022

   Ms. Roybal-Allard (for herself, Ms. Herrera Beutler, Ms. Clark of 
  Massachusetts, and Mrs. Hinson) submitted the following resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the roles and the contributions of United States certified 
   nurse-midwives and certified midwives in providing high-quality, 
 evidence-based, and cost-effective health care services to women and 
                         childbearing families.

Whereas certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) are 
        essential to the United States maternal health care system, providing a 
        wide-range of health care services for women and childbearing families, 
        including the independent provision of primary care, gynecologic 
        services, preconception care, care during pregnancy, childbirth and the 
        postpartum period, and care of the uncomplicated newborn during the 
        first 28 days of life;
Whereas CNMs and CMs care for women throughout their lifespan, from adolescence 
        to post menopause, and attend approximately 10 percent of our Nation's 
        births annually and serve as frontline essential health care providers;
Whereas midwifery-led care is evidence-based and has been shown to reduce 
        maternal and neonatal mortality, rates of stillbirth, perineal trauma, 
        instrumental births, intrapartum analgesia use, rates of severe blood 
        loss, preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal hypothermia, and has 
        been associated with more efficient use of resources and improved 
        outcomes including increased rates of spontaneous labor, vaginal birth, 
        and breastfeeding;
Whereas women and childbearing families who receive midwifery-led care have 
        higher rates of satisfaction, pain relief in labor, and supported 
        maternal-newborn interaction;
Whereas CNMs and CMs play an integral role in improving health outcomes in all 
        communities;
Whereas midwifery-led care is a significant source of maternal health services 
        in rural, underserved and low-resourced and vulnerable communities, and 
        CNMs and CMs attend over 30 percent of deliveries in rural hospitals;
Whereas CNMs and CMs provide care in every setting in which maternal and women's 
        health care services are delivered, including hospitals, private office 
        practices, public health departments, community health centers, rural 
        health centers, the Armed Forces, the Veterans Health Administration, 
        the Indian Health Service, freestanding birth centers, and in the home 
        setting; and
Whereas since 1988, National Midwifery Week has been celebrated during the last 
        week of September or the first week of October in order to raise public 
        awareness of and celebrate the Nation's more than 13,000 certified 
        nurse-midwives, certified midwives, and student midwives; and
Whereas, the celebration of National Midwifery Week 2022 is October 2 through 
        October 8: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the celebration of National Midwifery 
        Week;
            (2) recognizes the roles and the contributions of America's 
        certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives in providing 
        high-quality, evidence-based, and cost-effective health care 
        services to women and childbearing families;
            (3) thanks and promotes the profession of midwifery as 
        practiced by certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives; 
        and
            (4) encourages consumers, hospital administrators, health 
        care professionals, health educators, policymakers, and others 
        to become more familiar with the certified nurse-midwife and 
        certified midwife credential and the exceptional people who 
        have earned it and are currently studying to earn it by 
        participating in National Midwifery Week.
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