[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 119 (Monday, July 21, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6976-S6977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 616--REDUCING MATERNAL MORTALITY BOTH AT HOME AND 
                                 ABROAD

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself and Ms. Snowe) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 616

       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;

[[Page S6977]]

       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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