Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2020, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to bring national attention to the United States maternal health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 926 Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2020, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the United States maternal health crisis in the Black community and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 17, 2020 Ms. ADAMS (for herself, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. BASS, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. BEYER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. TRONE, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Geor- gia, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. HAALAND, Ms. SHALALA, Ms. MENG, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. OMAR, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. GRI- JALVA, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Ms. MOORE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. LEE of California, Mrs. DINGELL, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. KIRKPATRICK, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. LEWIS, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CROW, Mr. COHEN, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. RICHMOND, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. DELAURO, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, and Mr. MCEACHIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Recognizing the designation of the week of April 11 through VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Apr 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\HR926.IH HR926 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 926 IH April 17, 2020, as ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ to bring national attention to the United States maternal health crisis in the Black community 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 three to four times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes; 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 of Black women; Whereas Black women are 49 percent more likely than all other 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Apr 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR926.IH HR926 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 926 IH Whereas racism and discrimination play a consequential role in maternal health care, experiences, and outcomes; Whereas a fair distribution of resources, especially with re- gard to reproductive health care services and maternal health programming, is critical to closing the maternal health racial disparity gap; Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic is disparately affecting the Black community and has further amplified existing health care inequities in the United States, exacerbating the Black maternal health crisis; 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 most impacted by the United States maternal health cri- sis; and (2) policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and holistic maternal health care that is free from gender and racial discrimination: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives recog- 1 nizes— 2 (1) that Black women are experiencing high, 3 disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and 4 morbidity in the United States; 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Apr 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR926.IH HR926 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 926 IH (2) that the alarmingly high rates of maternal 1 mortality among Black women are unacceptable; 2 (3) that, in order to better mitigate the effects 3 of systemic and structural racism, Congress must 4 work toward ensuring that the Black community 5 has— 6 (A) adequate housing; 7 (B) transportation equity; 8 (C) nutritious food; 9 (D) clean water; 10 (E) environments free from toxins; 11 (F) fair treatment within the criminal jus- 12 tice system; 13 (G) safety and freedom from violence; 14 (H) a living wage; 15 (I) equal economic opportunity; and 16 (J) comprehensive, affordable health care; 17 (4) that, in order to improve maternal health 18 outcomes, Congress must fully support and encour- 19 age policies grounded in the human rights and re- 20 productive justice frameworks that address Black 21 maternal health inequity; 22 (5) that Black women and birthing persons 23 must be active participants in the policy decisions 24 that impact their lives; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Apr 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR926.IH HR926 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 926 IH (6) that ‘‘Black Maternal Health Week’’ is an 1 opportunity— 2 (A) to raise national awareness of the state 3 of Black maternal health in the United States; 4 (B) to amplify the voices of Black women 5 and birthing persons, families, and commu- 6 nities; 7 (C) to serve as a national platform for— 8 (i) entities led by Black women; and 9 (ii) efforts on maternal health; and 10 (D) to enhance community organizing on 11 Black maternal health. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:20 Apr 17, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR926.IH HR926 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS