This Senate resolution designates January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day." It lists U.S. maternal health facts from the text: about 800 women die each year from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications; the pregnancy-related mortality ratio more than quadrupled between 1987 and 2021; and the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group reported a significant percentage increase in U.S. maternal mortality in 2020. The resolution gives a 2020 timing breakdown of pregnancy-related deaths (about 25.7% during pregnancy; 11.1% during childbirth; 16.2% 1–6 days postpartum; 20.2% 7–42 days postpartum; and 26.9% 43 days to 1 year postpartum). It says 83.5% of pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable and that as many as 60,000 women each year experience severe maternal morbidity. The text states roughly 20% of mothers report mistreatment, and postpartum depression affects about 10–20% of new mothers, with many cases undiagnosed. It catalogs disparities: the pregnancy-related mortality ratio is nearly 3 times higher for Black women and more than twice as high for American Indian and Alaska Native women compared to White women. It also notes higher severe maternal morbidity rates for Black and Asian-Pacific Islander women, rural access problems (59% of rural counties are maternity care deserts), longer travel distances, and late or no prenatal care for some American Indian and Alaska Native women in rural areas. The resolution notes 47 States and DC have adopted 12-month Medicaid postpartum coverage options, 49 States and DC have maternal mortality review committees or requirements, and 49 States and DC participate in the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health. It highlights community-based care models, midwifery, doulas, perinatal workers, workforce increases, and telehealth as promising approaches. The resolution supports raising awareness, encouraging federal, state, tribal, local, and community action, promoting efforts to eliminate disparities and ensure respectful, equitable maternity care, honoring those who died of pregnancy-related causes, and recognizing the need for meaningful investments. The resolution itself does not create new programs or appropriate funds.
This resolution is mostly symbolic. It names January 23, 2025, as a day to raise awareness about maternal deaths, severe maternal health problems, and unequal outcomes for some groups. It encourages health providers, public health groups, communities, and governments to work on prevention, respectful care, and addressing disparities. It may increase attention and support for programs, but it does not itself change benefits or allocate money.
No publicly available information on costs or funding. The resolution expresses support for "meaningful investments" but does not specify or appropriate money.
Supporters want to raise public awareness about maternal mortality, maternal morbidity, and disparities; encourage action by federal, State, territorial, Tribal, local, and community groups and health providers to reduce adverse maternal outcomes and improve maternal safety; promote initiatives to eliminate disparities and ensure respectful and equitable maternity care; honor those who died from pregnancy-related causes; and support the need for investments to improve maternal health.
No publicly available information.