[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 12 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 12
Designating January 23, 2023, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 23 (legislative day, January 3), 2023
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Designating January 23, 2023, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.
Whereas, each year in the United States, approximately 700 individuals die as a
result of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth;
Whereas the pregnancy-related mortality ratio, defined as the number of
pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births, more than doubled in
the United States between 1987 and 2017;
Whereas the United States is one of the only Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development member countries in which the maternal
mortality rate has increased over the last several decades;
Whereas, of all pregnancy-related deaths in the United States between 2011 and
2016--
(1) nearly 32 percent occurred during pregnancy;
(2) approximately 35 percent occurred during childbirth or the week
after childbirth; and
(3) 33 percent occurred between 1 week and 1 year postpartum;
Whereas more than 80 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are
preventable;
Whereas, each year, more than 50,000 individuals in the United States suffer
from a ``near miss'' or severe maternal morbidity, which includes
potentially life-threatening complications that arise from labor and
childbirth;
Whereas approximately 17 percent of individuals who give birth in a hospital in
the United States report experiencing 1 or more types of mistreatment,
such as--
(1) loss of autonomy;
(2) being shouted at, scolded, or threatened; or
(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 outcomes exist in the United
States, including that--
(1) Black individuals are more than 3 times as likely to die from a
pregnancy-related cause as are White individuals;
(2) American Indian and Alaska Native individuals are more than twice
as likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause as are White individuals;
(3) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals with at least
some college education are more likely to die from a pregnancy-related
cause than are individuals of all other racial and ethnic backgrounds with
less than a high school diploma;
(4) Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native individuals are about
twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity as are White
individuals;
(5) individuals who live in rural areas have a greater likelihood of
severe maternal morbidity and mortality, compared to individuals who live
in urban areas;
(6) less than \1/2\ of rural counties 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 individuals who live in a rural area must
travel more than 30 minutes to access hospital obstetric services, compared
to 7 percent of individuals who live in urban areas; and
(9) American Indian and Alaska Native individuals living in rural
communities are twice as likely as their White counterparts to report
receiving late or no prenatal care;
Whereas pregnant individuals may be at increased risk for severe outcomes
associated with COVID-19, as--
(1) COVID-19 contributed to 25 percent of maternal deaths from 2020 to
2021;
(2) pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 are more likely to
be admitted to an intensive care unit, receive invasive ventilation, and
receive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (commonly known as ``ECMO'')
treatment, compared to nonpregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19;
(3) pregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 have a risk of dying
that is 7 times higher than nonpregnant individuals with symptomatic COVID-
19; and
(4) pregnant individuals with COVID-19 are at risk for pre-term
delivery and stillbirth;
Whereas 49 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 48 States and the District of Columbia 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 people to report
pregnancy-related medical issues; 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 Senate--
(1) designates January 23, 2023, as ``Maternal Health
Awareness Day'';
(2) supports the goals and ideals of Maternal Health
Awareness Day, 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;
(3) promotes initiatives--
(A) to address and eliminate disparities in
maternal health outcomes; and
(B) to ensure respectful and equitable maternity
care practices;
(4) honors those who have passed away as a result of
pregnancy-related causes; 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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