[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 492 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 492

  Designating January 23, 2022, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 19 (legislative day, January 18), 2022

   Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating January 23, 2022, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

Whereas, each year in the United States, approximately 700 individuals die as a 
        result of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth;
Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of 
        pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than doubled in 
        the United States between 1987 and 2017;
Whereas the United States is one of the only Organisation for Economic Co-
        operation and Development member countries in which the maternal 
        mortality rate has increased over the last several decades;
Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths in the United States between 2011 and 
        2016--

    (1) nearly 32 percent occurred during pregnancy;

    (2) approximately 35 percent occurred during childbirth or the week 
after childbirth; and

    (3) 33 percent occurred between 1 week and 1 year postpartum;

Whereas more than 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are 
        preventable;
Whereas, each year, more than 50,000 individuals in the United States suffer 
        from a ``near miss'' or severe maternal morbidity, which includes 
        potentially life-threatening complications that arise from labor and 
        childbirth;
Whereas approximately 17 percent of individuals who give birth in a hospital in 
        the United States report experiencing 1 or more types of mistreatment, 
        such as--

    (1) loss of autonomy;

    (2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; or

    (3) being ignored or refused or receiving no response to requests for 
help;

Whereas certain social determinants of health, including bias and racism, have a 
        negative impact on maternal health outcomes;
Whereas significant disparities in maternal health outcomes exist in the United 
        States, including that--

    (1) Black individuals are more than 3 times as likely to die from a 
pregnancy-related cause as are White individuals;

    (2) American Indian and Alaska Native individuals are more than twice 
as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White individuals;

    (3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals with at least 
some college education are more likely to die from a pregnancy-related 
cause than are individuals of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with 
less than a high school diploma;

    (4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals are about 
twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity as are White 
individuals;

    (5) individuals who live in rural areas have a greater likelihood of 
severe maternal morbidity and mortality, compared to individuals who live 
in urban areas;

    (6) less than \1/2\ of rural counties have a hospital with obstetric 
services;

    (7) counties with more Black and Hispanic residents and lower median 
incomes are less likely to have access to hospital obstetric services;

    (8) more than 50 percent of individuals who live in a rural area must 
travel more than 30 minutes to access hospital obstetric services, compared 
to 7 percent of individuals who live in urban areas; and

    (9) American Indian and Alaska Native individuals living in rural 
communities are twice as likely as their White counterparts to report 
receiving late or no prenatal care;

Whereas pregnant individuals may be at increased risk for severe outcomes 
        associated with COVID-19, as--

    (1) pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 are more likely to 
be admitted to an intensive care unit, receive invasive ventilation, and 
receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (commonly known as ``ECMO'') 
treatment, compared to nonpregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19;

    (2) pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 are at a 70-percent 
increased risk for death, compared to nonpregnant individuals with 
symptomatic COVID-19; and

    (3) pregnant individuals with COVID-19 are at risk for pre-term 
delivery and stillbirth;

Whereas 49 States have designated committees to review maternal deaths;
Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to 
        comprehensively assess maternal deaths and identify opportunities for 
        prevention;
Whereas 43 States are participating in the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal 
        Health, which promotes consistent and safe maternity care to reduce 
        maternal morbidity and mortality;
Whereas community-based maternal health care models, including midwifery 
        childbirth services, doula support services, community and perinatal 
        health worker services, and group prenatal care, in collaboration with 
        culturally competent physician care, show great promise in improving 
        maternal health outcomes and reducing disparities in maternal health 
        outcomes;
Whereas many organizations have implemented initiatives to educate patients and 
        providers about--

    (1) all causes of, contributing factors to, and disparities in maternal 
mortality;

    (2) the prevention of pregnancy-related deaths; and

    (3) the importance of listening to and empowering all people to report 
pregnancy-related medical issues; and

Whereas several States, communities, and organizations recognize January 23 as 
        ``Maternal Health Awareness Day'' to raise awareness about maternal 
        health and promote maternal safety: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates January 23, 2022, as ``Maternal Health 
        Awareness Day'';
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Health 
        Awareness Day, including--
                    (A) raising public awareness about maternal 
                mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparities in 
                maternal health outcomes; and
                    (B) encouraging the Federal Government, States, 
                territories, Tribes, local communities, public health 
                organizations, physicians, health care providers, and 
                others to take action to reduce adverse maternal health 
                outcomes and improve maternal safety;
            (3) promotes initiatives--
                    (A) to address and eliminate disparities in 
                maternal health outcomes; and
                    (B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity 
                care practices;
            (4) honors those who have passed away as a result of 
        pregnancy-related causes; and
            (5) supports and recognizes the need for further 
        investments in efforts to improve maternal health, eliminate 
        disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful 
        and equitable maternity care practices.
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