[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1213-S1214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 159--RECOGNIZING THE DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF APRIL 
11 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2023, AS THE SIXTH ANNUAL ``BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH 
WEEK'' TO BRING NATIONAL ATTENTION TO THE MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THE 
  UNITED STATES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING MATERNAL MORTALITY AND 
            MORBIDITY AMONG BLACK WOMEN AND BIRTHING PERSONS

  Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren, 
Mr. Padilla, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Duckworth, 
Ms. Smith, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. 
Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Brown, Mr. Merkley, and Ms. Klobuchar) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 159

       Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, Black women in the United States are 2.6 times 
     more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related 
     causes;
       Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life-
     threatening pregnancy complications, known as ``maternal 
     morbidities'', twice as often as White women;
       Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are--
       (1) among the highest of any member country of the 
     Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and
       (2) increasing rapidly, from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live 
     births in 2018, to 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 
     2021;
       Whereas the United States has the highest maternal 
     mortality rate among affluent countries, in part because of 
     the disproportionate mortality rate of Black women;
       Whereas the rate of preterm birth among Black women is 
     nearly 50 percent higher than the preterm birth rate among 
     White or Hispanic women;
       Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black 
     women span across--
       (1) income levels;
       (2) education levels; and
       (3) socioeconomic status;
       Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the 
     social determinants of health inequities experienced by Black 
     women and birthing persons in the United States significantly 
     contribute to the disproportionately high rates of maternal 
     mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing 
     persons;
       Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role 
     in maternal health care experiences and outcomes of Black 
     birthing persons;
       Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth 
     options, especially with regard to reproductive health care 
     services and maternal health programming, is critical to 
     closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes;
       Whereas Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, 
     and community-based organizations provide holistic maternal 
     care, but face structural and legal barriers to licensure, 
     reimbursement, and provision of care;
       Whereas COVID-19, which has disproportionately harmed Black 
     people in the United States, is associated with an increased 
     risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal 
     complications;
       Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted 
     issues within the broken health care system in the United 
     States and the harm of that system to Black women and 
     birthing persons;
       Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention has indicated that Black women had the highest 
     rate of maternal deaths related to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, 
     at 13.2 per 100,000 live births, while the rate among White 
     women was 4.5 per 100,000 live births;
       Whereas, even as there is growing concern about improving 
     access to mental health services, Black women are least 
     likely to have access to mental health screenings, treatment, 
     and support before, during, and after pregnancy;
       Whereas Black pregnant and postpartum workers are 
     disproportionately denied reasonable accommodations in the 
     workplace, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes;
       Whereas Black pregnant people disproportionately experience 
     surveillance and punishment, including shackling incarcerated 
     people in labor, drug testing mothers and infants without 
     informed consent, separating mothers from their newborns, and 
     criminalizing pregnancy outcomes;
       Whereas justice-informed, culturally congruent models of 
     care are beneficial to Black women; and
       Whereas an investment must be made in--
       (1) maternity care for Black women and birthing persons, 
     including support of care led by the communities most 
     affected by the maternal health crisis in the United States;
       (2) continuous health insurance coverage to support Black 
     women and birthing persons for the full postpartum period up 
     to at least 1 year after giving birth; and
       (3) policies that support and promote affordable, 
     comprehensive, and holistic maternal health care that is free 
     from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of 
     incarceration: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that--
       (1) Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate 
     rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United 
     States;
       (2) the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality among 
     Black women are unacceptable;
       (3) in order to better mitigate the effects of systemic and 
     structural racism, Congress must work toward ensuring that 
     the Black community has--
       (A) safe and affordable housing;
       (B) transportation equity;
       (C) nutritious food;
       (D) clean air and water;
       (E) environments free from toxins;
       (F) fair treatment within the criminal justice system;
       (G) safety and freedom from violence;
       (H) a living wage;
       (I) equal economic opportunity;
       (J) a sustained workforce pipeline for diverse perinatal 
     professionals; and
       (K) comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable health care 
     with access to the full spectrum of reproductive care;

[[Page S1214]]

       (4) in order to improve maternal health outcomes, Congress 
     must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the 
     human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice 
     frameworks that address Black maternal health inequity;
       (5) Black women and birthing persons must be active 
     participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives;
       (6) in order to ensure access to safe and respectful 
     maternal health care for Black birthing persons, Congress 
     must reintroduce and pass the Black Maternal Health Momnibus 
     Act of 2021 (S. 346, H.R. 959, 117th Congress); and
       (7) ``Black Maternal Health Week'' is an opportunity to--
       (A) deepen the national conversation about Black maternal 
     health in the United States;
       (B) amplify community-driven policy, research, and care 
     solutions;
       (C) center the voices of Black mothers, women, families, 
     and stakeholders;
       (D) provide a national platform for Black-led entities and 
     efforts on maternal health, birth, and reproductive justice; 
     and
       (E) enhance community organizing on Black maternal health.

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