[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 616 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







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 and Ms. Snowe) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
                          Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 greater financial 
        investment and participation in global initiatives; and
            (2) recognizes maternal health as a human right.
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