[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 603 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 603

  Supporting the ideals of Bump Day, a global day of maternal health 
     awareness, action and advocacy, and reaffirming United States 
leadership to end preventable maternal deaths in the United States and 
                               globally.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 19, 2023

  Ms. Houlahan (for herself, Mrs. Kim of California, and Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the ideals of Bump Day, a global day of maternal health 
     awareness, action and advocacy, and reaffirming United States 
leadership to end preventable maternal deaths in the United States and 
                               globally.

Whereas Bump Day, an annual global campaign that celebrates beautiful bumps and 
        healthy pregnancies while raising awareness about and calling for action 
        to address the urgent need for better, more accessible, more respectful, 
        and more responsive maternal health care, promoting healthy pregnancies, 
        safe births, and healthy babies in the United States and around the 
        world;
Whereas the World Health Organization estimates approximately 810 women die from 
        preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day around 
        the world;
Whereas 80 percent of all maternal deaths in the United States and worldwide are 
        preventable;
Whereas over 700 women in the United States die each year from pregnancy- and 
        childbirth-related complications and about 70,000 women suffer near-
        fatal complications or serious lifelong health-consequences, including 
        permanent disability;
Whereas women in the United States are more likely to die from childbirth or 
        pregnancy-related complications than women in all other high-income 
        countries, and the United States is the only high-income nation in the 
        world where maternal mortality is currently increasing;
Whereas 1 in 5 deliveries globally happen without the presence of a skilled 
        birth attendant;
Whereas 1 in 7 infants in the United States are born to a woman receiving 
        inadequate prenatal care;
Whereas pregnant women who do not receive prenatal care during pregnancy in the 
        United States are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related 
        complications;
Whereas Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women in the United States are 2 
        to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to 
        White women;
Whereas, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
        the maternal mortality rate for Hispanic women surged during the COVID-
        19 pandemic, surpassing that for White women for the first time in more 
        than a decade;
Whereas risks to moms in the United States and globally have risen even higher 
        due to widening gaps in maternal health care during the COVID-19 
        pandemic, as well as due to serious pregnancy risks associated with 
        maternal COVID-19 infection;
Whereas proper preconception management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, 
        hypertension, and periodontal disease can reduce the risk of serious 
        pregnancy complications for both a mom and her baby;
Whereas nearly half of all maternal deaths occur in the immediate postpartum 
        period, with 21 percent occurring between 1 and 6 weeks postpartum, and 
        12 percent during the remaining portion of the postpartum year, and most 
        of these deaths could be prevented with increased access to postpartum 
        care;
Whereas 1 in 5 women in the United States experience perinatal mood and anxiety 
        disorders (PMAD), with suicide being a leading cause of preventable 
        maternal deaths, and untreated PMADs cost the United States 
        $14,200,000,000 annually;
Whereas intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause of maternal death, 
        and women are more likely to experience IPV during pregnancy than at any 
        other time in their lives;
Whereas IPV during pregnancy and postpartum crosses every demographic and has 
        been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas doula support has been shown to improve pregnancy, birth, and postpartum 
        outcomes, lower pregnancy- and childbirth-related costs by lowering 
        rates of cesarean birth, epidural anesthesia, and other interventions, 
        and reduce the impact of racial bias on pregnant and postpartum women of 
        color;
Whereas incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women face heightened risks for 
        maternal mortality and complications, as well as maternal mood 
        disorders, and should be provided the highest standard of care;
Whereas the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in rural and other 
        underserved areas in the United States is disproportionately high due to 
        challenges in accessing the comprehensive, affordable, quality maternal 
        health care that all moms deserve;
Whereas more than half of all rural counties in the United States do not have 
        access to hospital-based obstetric services;
Whereas increasing access to broadband, telehealth, and mobile maternity care 
        could improve maternal outcomes;
Whereas awareness of urgent maternal warning signs and symptoms during pregnancy 
        and postpartum and prompt diagnosis and treatment can prevent mortality 
        and morbidity;
Whereas every expectant mom deserves the respectful, responsive care and support 
        she needs to deliver a safe pregnancy, healthy birth, and healthy future 
        to herself and her baby; and
Whereas Wednesday, July 19, 2023, and all subsequent third Wednesdays in July 
        would be an appropriate annual day for the celebration of ``Bump Day'': 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) celebrates Bump Day's goal of raising awareness about 
        the need for improved maternal health care in the United States 
        and globally, and of ending all preventable maternal deaths;
            (2) recognizes the critical role of health workers, 
        including obstetricians, midwives, mental health providers, and 
        doulas in achieving safe, healthy pregnancies and deliveries in 
        the United States and globally;
            (3) recognizes the benefits of evidence-based group 
        prenatal and postpartum care approaches;
            (4) recognizes the role of fathers and other partners in 
        supporting healthy pregnancies, safe births, and healthy 
        babies, improving health outcomes for mother and baby, as well 
        as initiation and success of breastfeeding; and
            (5) reaffirms continued leadership by the United States to 
        combat preventable maternal deaths in the United States and 
        globally.
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