[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3028-H3029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
      MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH STILLBIRTH PREVENTION ACT OF 2024

  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4581) to amend title V of the Social Security Act to support 
stillbirth prevention and research, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4581

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Maternal and Child Health 
     Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION SUPPORTING PERMISSIBLE USE OF FUNDS FOR 
                   STILLBIRTH PREVENTION ACTIVITIES.

       Section 501(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     701(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``to reduce the 
     incidence of stillbirth,'' after ``among children,''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting after ``follow-up 
     services'' the following: ``, and for evidence-based programs 
     and activities and outcome research to reduce the incidence 
     of stillbirth (including tracking and awareness of fetal 
     movements, improvement of birth timing for pregnancies with 
     risk factors, initiatives that encourage safe sleeping 
     positions during pregnancy, screening and surveillance for 
     fetal growth restriction, efforts to achieve smoking 
     cessation during pregnancy, community-based programs that 
     provide home visits or other types of support, and any other 
     research or evidence-based programming to prevent 
     stillbirths)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4581, the Maternal and Child 
Health Stillbirth Prevention Act led by Representative Hinson.
  The United States sees more than 21,000 stillbirths per year, 
according to recent data reported by the CDC. This equates to 1 out of 
75 births. This is unacceptably high, and a recent study funded by the 
National Institutes of Health shows that one in four stillbirths may be 
preventable. It is clear that we must do more.
  States are authorized to use their Maternal and Child Health Services 
Block Grant funding for stillbirth education and related activities, 
but due to a lack of clear Federal guidance, some States have refrained 
from using this funding for these purposes.
  H.R. 4581 clarifies that States can use this funding for evidence-
based programs and outcomes research to help prevent and reduce the 
incidence of stillbirth.
  This bill supports the sanctity of human life by helping to prevent 
future stillbirths and supporting mothers and babies across the 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States continues to face a devastating crisis 
in maternal health, and this includes an ongoing crisis of stillbirths. 
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
there are approximately 21,000 stillbirth infants born every year in 
the United States. That is about 58 stillbirths every day. According to 
the March of Dimes, the annual number of stillbirths far exceeds the 
number of deaths among children from preterm birth, SIDS, accidents, 
drownings, fire, and flu combined.
  Women who experience a stillbirth are also more likely to experience 
complications or even death after the delivery. According to the March 
of Dimes, severe morbidity is nearly five times more common than in 
women who experience a healthy pregnancy and delivery. These women are 
also justifiably more likely to suffer from depression.
  H.R. 4581, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act, 
is bipartisan legislation which clarifies that States can use title V 
funding for evidence-based programs, activities, and outcome research 
to reduce the incidence of stillbirth. These activities could include 
community-based programs that provide home visits or other types of 
support and research or evidence-based programming to prevent 
stillbirths. This bill is supported by more than 30 women's health and 
research organizations across our healthcare spectrum.
  This bill will provide better certainty for States to enhance the 
safety of women throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum 
experiences. The hope is that States would focus their efforts on 
communities with large health disparities in birth outcomes.
  I thank Representative Adams for her leadership on this legislation. 
I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Hinson.)

[[Page H3029]]

  

  Mrs. HINSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to 
support my bill, the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention 
Act.
  The United States continues to lead the world in medical innovation, 
development of new cures, and cutting-edge medical technology. However, 
the high maternal mortality and stillbirth rate in the United States is 
inexcusable. Over 21,000 babies are stillborn every year, and nearly 
one in four of these deaths are preventable.
  In the last two decades, the stillbirth rate in the United States 
declined by a negligible 0.4 percent. In a report published by the 
World Health Organization comparing progress in improving stillbirth 
rates, the United States ranked 183 out of 195 countries.
  Our moms and our babies deserve better.
  The tragedy of a stillbirth, the unexpected death of a baby after 20 
weeks of pregnancy, is devastating to mothers and fathers. Many women 
who endure a stillbirth have already picked out their baby's name or 
started decorating a nursery. The heartbreak of stillbirth leaves an 
unfillable void for the families that it impacts.
  Stillbirth disproportionately impacts minority, rural, and 
underserved communities, including many communities in my home State of 
Iowa that are designated as maternal healthcare deserts.
  I have heard from women in rural Iowa who drive over an hour to see 
their OB/GYN or visit the nearest maternal ward or hospital and 
struggle to receive the quality care they need throughout their 
pregnancy. Ensuring expecting women have access to high-quality 
maternal care, regardless of their ZIP Code or their income level, is 
critical to preventing stillbirths and improving outcomes for both moms 
and babies.
  Congress must use every tool at our disposable to end stillbirth and 
support stillbirth prevention, awareness, and research. That is why we 
are here today.
  My bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act 
would finally dedicate funds toward stillbirth prevention and research, 
saving the lives of mothers and babies.
  Throughout my work on this legislation, I have had the opportunity to 
sit down with stillbirth prevention advocates who have turned their 
pain into passion. These brave women are on a mission to ensure that no 
mother, father, or family ever endures the tragedy of stillbirth again. 
They are truly some of the strongest women I have ever met.
  I have been honored to fight alongside them to bring this vital 
legislation across the finish line, as well as with my co-lead on the 
bill, Congresswoman Alma Adams. She has long fought to improve 
stillbirth prevention, and I am proud of the work that we have done 
together in a bipartisan manner to support expecting moms from Iowa to 
North Carolina and across the country.
  Additionally, this bipartisan legislation has been endorsed by dozens 
of women's health, public health, and medical provider associations, 
and it has been passed by the Senate already in a similar form by 
unanimous consent.
  I was blessed to be able to spend Mother's Day with my two sons over 
the weekend, but my heart continues to ache for the women who were 
mourning the loss of a child they never got to meet. I hope my 
colleagues join me in bringing more wonderful babies and healthy 
pregnancies into this world by supporting this bill.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, I am 
prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I have one additional speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Carter).
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bipartisan 
Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act.
  As a father to three sons and a grandfather to seven beautiful 
grandbabies, there is nothing more important to me than improving 
health outcomes for mothers and children.
  Tragically, more than 21,000 babies are stillborn every year, 
upending the lives of mothers and families across the United States.
  No family should have to experience the heartbreak of a stillbirth. 
That is why I am proud to support the Maternal and Child Health 
Stillbirth Prevention Act so that women and children have the best 
health outcomes our Nation can provide.
  Increasing access to maternal care, especially for rural and 
underserved communities, is critical toward preventing stillbirths so 
more babies experience a healthy birth and make it home with their 
families. This critical legislation would strengthen and enhance the 
Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, which will help ensure 
expecting moms can receive quality prenatal care.
  We value women, we value life, and this bipartisan bill prioritizes 
both.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Hinson for working on this 
important issue, and I urge my colleague to support this legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill for mothers' 
safety to prevent stillborn infants. I urge all my colleagues to 
support this on a bipartisan basis, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage a ``yes'' vote on 
the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4581, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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