[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 773 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 773

    Supporting the ideals of Bump Day to ensure, through advocacy, 
 awareness, and action, that every mom, regardless of where she lives, 
 the color of her skin, or her ability to pay, gets the care she needs 
to deliver a safe pregnancy and birth, and a healthy future for herself 
                        and the baby she loves.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 25, 2024

  Mr. Coons (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Butler) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the ideals of Bump Day to ensure, through advocacy, 
 awareness, and action, that every mom, regardless of where she lives, 
 the color of her skin, or her ability to pay, gets the care she needs 
to deliver a safe pregnancy and birth, and a healthy future for herself 
                        and the baby she loves.

Whereas Bump Day is 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 healthcare, promoting healthy 
        pregnancies, safe births, and healthy babies in the United States and 
        ending the crisis of maternal mortality and morbidity;
Whereas, each year since 2022, more than 800 women in the United States die from 
        pregnancy-related and childbirth-related complications;
Whereas each year approximately 70,000 women in the United States suffer near-
        fatal complications or serious lifelong health consequences, including 
        permanent disability, from pregnancy-related and childbirth-related 
        complications;
Whereas stillbirth affects approximately 1 in 175 births, and each year 
        approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn in the United States, with 
        many of those deaths considered preventable;
Whereas 80 percent of all maternal deaths in the United States are preventable;
Whereas women in the United States are more likely to die from childbirth-
        related or pregnancy-related complications than women in all other high-
        income countries, and, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, 
        the United States is the only high-income country in the world where 
        maternal mortality is increasing;
Whereas 1 in 7 infants in the United States are born to a woman receiving 
        inadequate prenatal care;
Whereas nearly 7 percent of infants in the United States are born to a woman who 
        received late or no prenatal care;
Whereas pregnant women in the United States who do not receive prenatal care 
        during pregnancy are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-
        related complications;
Whereas Black, American Indian, and 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 early screening for and management of diabetes and hypertension can 
        reduce the risk of serious pregnancy and postpartum complications for 
        both a mom and her baby;
Whereas screening for, and treatment of, periodontal disease before and during 
        pregnancy can reduce the risks of pregnancy and postpartum 
        complications, such as preeclampsia and preterm birth;
Whereas nearly half of all maternal deaths in the United States occur in the 
        immediate postpartum period, with 21 percent occurring between 1 and 6 
        weeks postpartum and 12 percent occurring during the remaining portion 
        of the postpartum year;
Whereas, according to recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians 
        and Gynecologists, most of the maternal deaths described in the 
        preceding whereas clause could be prevented with increased access to and 
        coverage for postpartum care as needed;
Whereas 1 in 5 women in the United States experience perinatal mood and anxiety 
        disorders (referred to in this preamble as ``PMAD''), with suicide being 
        a leading cause of preventable maternal deaths, and untreated PMADs 
        costing the United States $14,200,000,000 annually;
Whereas intimate partner violence (referred to in this preamble as ``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 untreated substance use disorders in pregnant women can lead to long-
        term, potentially fatal complications for the baby, including low birth 
        weight, preterm birth, placental abruptions, and sudden unexplained 
        infant death syndrome;
Whereas doula support has been shown--

    (1) to improve pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes;

    (2) to lower pregnancy-related and childbirth-related costs by lowering 
rates of cesarean birth, epidermal anesthesia, and other interventions; and

    (3) to reduce the impact of racial bias on pregnant and postpartum 
women of color;

Whereas research demonstrates that midwife care contributes to better maternal 
        health outcomes, lowers risks of unnecessary cesarean births and 
        postpartum mood disorders, and reduces racial and geographic pregnancy-
        related disparities;
Whereas incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women face heightened risks for 
        maternal and infant mortality and complications, as well as maternal 
        mood disorders, and should be provided quality, comprehensive 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, and quality 
        maternal healthcare 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, mobile maternity care, home 
        blood pressure monitoring, and information relating to urgent maternal 
        warning signs could improve maternal outcomes;
Whereas awareness of urgent maternal warning signs, symptoms during pregnancy, 
        postpartum, prompt diagnosis, and treatment can prevent mortality and 
        morbidity;
Whereas the engagement and inclusion of a father in prenatal and postnatal care 
        can improve maternal and infant outcomes;
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 24, 2024, and all subsequent third Wednesdays in July 
        would be an appropriate day for the celebration of Bump Day: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates the goal of Bump Day of raising awareness 
        about the need for improved maternal healthcare in the United 
        States and globally, and of ending all preventable maternal 
        deaths;
            (2) recognizes the critical role of health workers and the 
        importance of growing the maternal health workforce, including 
        midwives, mental health providers, and doulas, and of 
        increasing telehealth and mobile care in achieving safe, 
        healthy pregnancies, and deliveries in the United States;
            (3) recognizes the benefits of evidence-based group 
        prenatal and postpartum care approaches;
            (4) recognizes the vital role that fathers and other 
        supportive partners play in promoting the health and well-being 
        of expectant mothers and newborns, including by--
                    (A) supporting healthy pregnancies and safe births;
                    (B) contributing to improved health outcomes for 
                mothers and babies; and
                    (C) encouraging and supporting breastfeeding 
                initiation and success; and
            (5) reaffirms continued leadership by the United States to 
        combat preventable maternal deaths in the United States and 
        globally.
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