[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S436-S437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 479--DESIGNATING JANUARY 23, 2020, AS ``MATERNAL 
                         HEALTH AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. Menendez, and Ms. Harris) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 479

       Whereas, every year in the United States, approximately 700 
     women 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 between 1987 and 2016;
       Whereas the United States is the only developed country 
     whose maternal mortality rate has increased over the last 
     several decades;
       Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths between 2011 and 
     2015--
       (1) nearly 31 percent occurred during pregnancy;
       (2) about 36 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, in 2014 alone, 50,000 women suffered from a ``near 
     miss'' or severe maternal morbidity, which includes 
     potentially life-threatening complications that arise from 
     labor and childbirth;
       Whereas 28 percent of women who gave birth in a hospital in 
     the United States reported experiencing 1 or more types of 
     mistreatment, such as--
       (1) loss of autonomy;
       (2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; and
       (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 exist, 
     including that--
       (1) Black women are more than 3 times as likely to die from 
     a pregnancy-related cause as are White women;
       (2) American Indian and Alaska Native women are more than 
     twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are 
     White women;
       (3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women with at 
     least some college education are more likely to die from a 
     pregnancy-related cause than are women of all other racial 
     and ethnic backgrounds with less than a high school diploma;
       (4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are 
     about twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal 
     morbidity as are White women;
       (5) women who live in rural areas have a greater likelihood 
     of severe maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women 
     who live in urban areas;
       (6) nearly \1/2\ of rural counties do not 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 women who live in a rural area 
     must travel more than 30 minutes to access hospital obstetric 
     services, compared to 7 percent of women who live in urban 
     areas; and
       (9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural 
     communities are twice as likely as their White counterparts 
     to report receiving late or no prenatal care;

       Whereas more than 40 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 more than 25 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 women 
     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, 2020, 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

[[Page S437]]

       (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 the mothers 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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