A resolution recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 153 Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 13, 2021 Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. PADILLA, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. BROWN, Mr. WARNOCK, Mr. PETERS, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BENNET, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. GILLI- BRAND, and Ms. ROSEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing the week of April 11 through April 17, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national at- tention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons. Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the United States are 2 to 3 times more likely than White women to die from preg- nancy-related causes; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 153 IS Whereas Black women in the United States suffer from life- threatening pregnancy complications, known as ‘‘mater- nal morbidities’’, twice as often as White women; Whereas maternal mortality rates in the United States are— (1) among the highest in the developed world; and (2) increasing rapidly; Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mor- tality rate among affluent countries, in part because of the disproportionate mortality rate among Black women; Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than White women to deliver prematurely; Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across— (1) income levels; (2) education levels; and (3) socioeconomic status; Whereas structural racism, gender oppression, and the social determinants of health inequities experienced by Black women in the United States significantly contribute to the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women; Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role in the maternal healthcare experiences and outcomes of Black birthing people; Whereas a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth options, especially with regard to reproductive healthcare services and maternal health programming, are critical to closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has further highlighted issues within the broken healthcare system in the United VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 153 IS States and the harm of that system to Black women and birthing persons by exposing— (1) increased barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care, including maternal mental healthcare; (2) the lack of uniform hospital policies permitting doulas and support persons to be present during labor and delivery; (3) inconsistent hospital policies regarding the sepa- ration of the newborn from a mother that is suspected positive for COVID–19; (4) complexities in COVID–19 vaccine and thera- peutics trials including pregnant and lactating people; (5) increased rates of caesarean section deliveries; (6) shortened hospital stays following delivery; (7) provider shortages and lack of sufficient policies to allow home births attended by midwives; (8) insufficient practical support for delivery of care by midwives, including telehealth access; (9) adverse economic impact on Black mothers and families due to job loss or reduction in income during quarantine and the pandemic recession; and (10) pervasive racial injustice against Black people in the criminal justice, social, and healthcare systems; Whereas, even as there is growing concern about improving access to mental health services, Black women are least likely to have access to mental health screenings, treat- ment, and support before, during, and after pregnancy; Whereas justice-informed, culturally congruent models of care are beneficial to Black women; and Whereas an investment must be made in— (1) maternity care for Black women and birthing persons, including support of care led by the communities VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 153 IS most affected by the maternal health crisis in the United States; (2) continuous health insurance coverage to support Black women and birthing persons for the full postpar- tum period up to at least 1 year after giving birth; and (3) policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and holistic maternal healthcare that is free from gender and racial discrimination, regardless of incarceration: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate recognizes— 1 (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 2 disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 3 morbidity in the United States; 4 (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal 5 mortality and morbidity among Black women are 6 unacceptable; 7 (3) that, in order to better mitigate the effects 8 of systemic and structural racism, Congress must 9 work toward ensuring that the Black community 10 has— 11 (A) safe and affordable housing; 12 (B) transportation equity; 13 (C) nutritious food; 14 (D) clean air and water; 15 (E) environments free from toxins; 16 (F) fair treatment within the criminal jus- 17 tice system; 18 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 153 IS (G) safety and freedom from violence; 1 (H) a living wage; 2 (I) equal economic opportunity; 3 (J) a sustained workforce pipeline for di- 4 verse perinatal professionals; and 5 (K) comprehensive, quality, and affordable 6 healthcare with access to the full spectrum of 7 reproductive care; 8 (4) that, in order to improve maternal health 9 outcomes, Congress must fully support and encour- 10 age policies grounded in the human rights and re- 11 productive justice frameworks that address Black 12 maternal health inequity; 13 (5) that Black women and birthing persons 14 must be active participants in the policy decisions 15 that impact their lives; 16 (6) that, in order to ensure access to safe and 17 respectful maternal healthcare for Black women and 18 birthing persons, Congress must pass the Black Ma- 19 ternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021; 20 (7) that Black Maternal Health Week is an op- 21 portunity to— 22 (A) raise national awareness of the state of 23 Black maternal health in the United States; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •SRES 153 IS (B) amplify the voices of Black women and 1 birthing persons, families, and communities; 2 (C) serve as a national platform for— 3 (i) entities led by Black women; and 4 (ii) efforts on maternal health; and 5 (D) enhance community organizing on 6 Black maternal health; and 7 (8) the significance of April 11 through April 8 17, 2021, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 Apr 13, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR153.IS SR153 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS