[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 853 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 853
Recognizing the maternal health crisis in the United States and the
importance of reducing mortality and morbidity among all women, and
honoring mothers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2020
Mr. McEachin (for himself, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Pressley, Ms.
Underwood, Ms. Adams, Ms. Spanberger, and Ms. Wexton) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the maternal health crisis in the United States and the
importance of reducing mortality and morbidity among all women, and
honoring mothers.
Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of
pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than doubled
between 1987 and 2016;
Whereas the United States is the only developed country whose maternal mortality
rate has increased over the last several decades;
Whereas of all pregnancy-related deaths between 2011 and 2015--
(1) nearly 31 percent occurred during pregnancy;
(2) about 36 percent occurred during childbirth or the week after
childbirth; and
(3) 33 percent occurred between 1 week and 1 year postpartum;
Whereas more than 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are
preventable;
Whereas, in 2014 alone, 50,000 women suffered from a ``near miss'' or severe
maternal morbidity, which includes potentially life-threatening
complications that arise from labor and childbirth;
Whereas 28 percent of women who gave birth in a hospital in the United States
reported experiencing 1 or more types of mistreatment, such as--
(1) loss of autonomy;
(2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; and
(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 exist, including that--
(1) Black women are more than 3 times as likely to die from a
pregnancy-related cause as are White women;
(2) American Indian and Alaska Native women are more than 2 times as
likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White women;
(3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women with at least some
college education are more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause
than are women of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with less than a
high school diploma;
(4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women are about 2 times
as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity as are White women;
(5) women who live in rural areas have a greater likelihood of severe
maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women who live in urban areas;
(6) nearly 50 percent of rural counties do not 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 women who live in a rural area must travel
more than 30 minutes to access hospital obstetric services, compared to 7
percent of women who live in urban areas; and
(9) American Indian and Alaska Native women living in rural communities
are twice as likely as their White counterparts to report receiving late or
no prenatal care;
Whereas more than 40 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 more than 25 States 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 women to report
pregnancy-related medical issues;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (in this Resolution,
referred to as the ``CDC''), for the first time in over a decade,
released a report on January 30, 2020, assessing the United States
maternal mortality rate that--
(1) found in 2018, the maternal mortality rate was 17.4 maternal deaths
per 100,000 live births;
(2) found the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was
more than double that of non-Hispanic White women at 37.1 deaths per
100,000 live births compared to 14.7, and 3 times the rate of Hispanic
women (11.8); and
(3) while using a new standardized methodology to improve the accuracy
of States reporting maternal deaths, still has potential methodological
concerns with the reporting of maternal mortality data, such as the CDC
report excluding mothers over the age of 44 and only accounting for deaths
within 42 days of giving birth, potentially omitting later postpartum
deaths; 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 House of Representatives--
(1) acknowledges the United States deeply troubling
maternal health crisis and supports expedited Federal action on
reducing the rates of maternal mortality in the United States,
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;
(2) promotes initiatives--
(A) to address and eliminate disparities in
maternal health outcomes; and
(B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity
care practices;
(3) honors the mothers who have passed away as a result of
pregnancy-related causes;
(4) supports collecting better data on maternal mortality
and morbidity; 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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