[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S57-S58]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 12--DESIGNATING JANUARY 23, 2023, AS ``MATERNAL 
                         HEALTH AWARENESS DAY''

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

                               S. Res. 12

       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 80 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

[[Page S58]]

     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) COVID-19 contributed to 25 percent of maternal deaths 
     from 2020 to 2021;
       (2) 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;
       (3) pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 have a 
     risk of dying that is 7 times higher than nonpregnant 
     individuals with symptomatic COVID-19; and
       (4) 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 48 States and the District of Columbia 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, 2023, 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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