[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 121 (Thursday, July 25, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  SENATE RESOLUTION 773--SUPPORTING THE IDEALS OF BUMP DAY TO ENSURE, 
THROUGH ADVOCACY, AWARENESS, AND ACTION, THAT EVERY MOM, REGARDLESS OF 
WHERE SHE LIVES, THE COLOR OF HER SKIN, OR HER ABILITY TO PAY, GETS THE 
  CARE SHE NEEDS TO DELIVER A SAFE PREGNANCY AND BIRTH, AND A HEALTHY 
               FUTURE FOR HERSELF AND THE BABY SHE LOVES

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Butler) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 773

       Whereas Bump Day is an annual global campaign that 
     celebrates beautiful bumps and healthy pregnancies while 
     raising awareness about and calling for action to address the 
     urgent need for better, more accessible, more respectful, and 
     more responsive maternal healthcare, promoting healthy 
     pregnancies, safe births, and healthy babies in the United 
     States and ending the crisis of maternal mortality and 
     morbidity;
       Whereas, each year since 2022, more than 800 women in the 
     United States die from pregnancy-related and childbirth-
     related complications;
       Whereas each year approximately 70,000 women in the United 
     States suffer near-fatal complications or serious lifelong 
     health consequences, including permanent disability, from 
     pregnancy-related and childbirth-related complications;
       Whereas stillbirth affects approximately 1 in 175 births, 
     and each year approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn in 
     the United States, with many of those deaths considered 
     preventable;
       Whereas 80 percent of all maternal deaths in the United 
     States are preventable;
       Whereas women in the United States are more likely to die 
     from childbirth-related or pregnancy-related complications 
     than women in all other high-income countries, and, as of the 
     date of adoption of this resolution, the United States is the 
     only high-income country in the world where maternal 
     mortality is increasing;
       Whereas 1 in 7 infants in the United States are born to a 
     woman receiving inadequate prenatal care;
       Whereas nearly 7 percent of infants in the United States 
     are born to a woman who received late or no prenatal care;
       Whereas pregnant women in the United States who do not 
     receive prenatal care during pregnancy are 3 to 4 times more 
     likely to die from pregnancy-related complications;
       Whereas Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women in 
     the United States are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from 
     pregnancy-related causes compared to White women;
       Whereas early screening for and management of diabetes and 
     hypertension can reduce the risk of serious pregnancy and 
     postpartum complications for both a mom and her baby;
       Whereas screening for, and treatment of, periodontal 
     disease before and during pregnancy can reduce the risks of 
     pregnancy and postpartum complications, such as preeclampsia 
     and preterm birth;
       Whereas nearly half of all maternal deaths in the United 
     States occur in the immediate postpartum period, with 21 
     percent occurring between 1 and 6 weeks postpartum and 12 
     percent occurring during the remaining portion of the 
     postpartum year;
       Whereas, according to recommendations from the American 
     College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, most of the 
     maternal deaths described in the preceding whereas clause 
     could be prevented with increased access to and coverage for 
     postpartum care as needed;
       Whereas 1 in 5 women in the United States experience 
     perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``PMAD''), with suicide being a leading cause of 
     preventable maternal deaths, and untreated PMADs costing the 
     United States $14,200,000,000 annually;
       Whereas intimate partner violence (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``IPV'') is a leading cause of maternal death, 
     and women are more likely to experience IPV during pregnancy 
     than at any other time in their lives;
       Whereas untreated substance use disorders in pregnant women 
     can lead to long-term, potentially fatal complications for 
     the baby, including low birth weight, preterm birth, 
     placental abruptions, and sudden unexplained infant death 
     syndrome;
       Whereas doula support has been shown--
       (1) to improve pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes;
       (2) to lower pregnancy-related and childbirth-related costs 
     by lowering rates of cesarean birth, epidermal anesthesia, 
     and other interventions; and
       (3) to reduce the impact of racial bias on pregnant and 
     postpartum women of color;
       Whereas research demonstrates that midwife care contributes 
     to better maternal health outcomes, lowers risks of 
     unnecessary cesarean births and postpartum mood disorders, 
     and reduces racial and geographic pregnancy-related 
     disparities;
       Whereas incarcerated pregnant and postpartum women face 
     heightened risks for maternal and infant mortality and 
     complications, as well as maternal mood disorders, and should 
     be provided quality, comprehensive care;
       Whereas the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in 
     rural and other underserved areas in the United States is 
     disproportionately high due to challenges in accessing the 
     comprehensive, affordable, and quality maternal healthcare 
     that all moms deserve;
       Whereas more than half of all rural counties in the United 
     States do not have access to hospital-based obstetric 
     services;
       Whereas increasing access to broadband, telehealth, mobile 
     maternity care, home blood pressure monitoring, and 
     information relating to urgent maternal warning signs could 
     improve maternal outcomes;
       Whereas awareness of urgent maternal warning signs, 
     symptoms during pregnancy, postpartum, prompt diagnosis, and 
     treatment can prevent mortality and morbidity;
       Whereas the engagement and inclusion of a father in 
     prenatal and postnatal care can improve maternal and infant 
     outcomes;
       Whereas every expectant mom deserves the respectful, 
     responsive care and support she needs to deliver a safe 
     pregnancy, healthy birth, and healthy future to herself and 
     her baby; and
       Whereas Wednesday, July 24, 2024, and all subsequent third 
     Wednesdays in July would be an appropriate day for the 
     celebration of Bump Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the goal of Bump Day of raising awareness 
     about the need for improved maternal healthcare in the United 
     States and globally, and of ending all preventable maternal 
     deaths;
       (2) recognizes the critical role of health workers and the 
     importance of growing the maternal health workforce, 
     including midwives, mental health providers, and doulas, and 
     of increasing telehealth and mobile care in achieving safe, 
     healthy pregnancies, and deliveries in the United States;
       (3) recognizes the benefits of evidence-based group 
     prenatal and postpartum care approaches;
       (4) recognizes the vital role that fathers and other 
     supportive partners play in promoting the health and well-
     being of expectant mothers and newborns, including by--
       (A) supporting healthy pregnancies and safe births;
       (B) contributing to improved health outcomes for mothers 
     and babies; and
       (C) encouraging and supporting breastfeeding initiation and 
     success; and
       (5) reaffirms continued leadership by the United States to 
     combat preventable maternal deaths in the United States and 
     globally.

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