[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 616 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 616

          Reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 21 (legislative day, July 17), 2008

   Mrs. Lincoln (for herself, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Levin, Ms. Collins, Ms. 
    Stabenow, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Dole, Mr. 
   Salazar, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Reed, Mr. Johnson, Mrs. 
  Clinton, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Brown) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

            October 2 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

        Committee discharged; considered, amended, and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Reducing maternal mortality both at home and abroad.

Whereas more than 536,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year 
        which is one every minute;
Whereas in 15 percent of all pregnancies, the complications are life-
        threatening;
Whereas girls under 15 are 5 times more likely to die in childbirth than women 
        in their 20s;
Whereas nearly all these deaths are preventable;
Whereas survival rates greatly depend upon the distance and time a woman must 
        travel to get skilled emergency medical care;
Whereas care by skilled birth attendants, nurses, midwives, or doctors during 
        pregnancy and childbirth, including emergency services, and care for 
        mothers and newborns is essential;
Whereas the poorer the household, the greater the risk of maternal death, and 99 
        percent of maternal deaths occur in developing countries;
Whereas newborns whose mothers die of any cause are 3 to 10 times more likely to 
        die within 2 years than those whose mothers survive;
Whereas more than 1,000,000 children are left motherless and vulnerable every 
        year;
Whereas young girls are often pulled from school and required to fill their lost 
        mother's roles;
Whereas a mother's death lowers family income and productivity which affects the 
        entire community;
Whereas in countries with similar levels of economic development, maternal 
        mortality is highest where women's status is lowest;
Whereas the United States ranks 41st among 171 countries in the latest UN list 
        ranking maternal mortality;
Whereas the overall United States maternal mortality ratio is now 11 deaths per 
        100,000 live births, one of the highest rates among industrialized 
        nations;
Whereas United States maternal deaths have remained roughly stable since 1982 
        and have not declined significantly since then;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control estimates that the true level of United 
        States maternal deaths may be 1.3 to 3 times higher than the reported 
        rate; and
Whereas ethnic and racial disparities in maternal mortality rates persist and in 
        the United States maternal mortality among black women is almost four 
        times the rate among non-Hispanic white women: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) makes a stronger commitment to reducing maternal 
        mortality both at home and abroad through more effective 
        financial investment and participation in global initiatives; 
        and
            (2) recognizes that the right to access quality and 
        affordable health care is essential to improving maternal 
        health.
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