[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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