This Senate resolution names January 23, 2026, as “Maternal Health Awareness Day.” It describes recent U.S. maternal health facts from the resolution text: more than 600 pregnancy-related deaths each year, a pregnancy-related mortality ratio that more than doubled between 1987 and 2024, and a U.S. increase in maternal mortality from 2000 to 2023. The text gives timing of pregnancy-related deaths in 2021, says 87% of those deaths were considered preventable, and notes a 40% rise in severe maternal morbidity from 2016 to 2021. It lists disparities: higher pregnancy-related mortality for Black and American Indian and Alaska Native women, higher rates of severe maternal morbidity for Black and Asian-Pacific Islander women, longer travel times and fewer local obstetric services in many rural counties, and a higher preterm birth rate for American Indian and Alaska Native people versus White people. The resolution highlights postpartum depression rates, reports of mistreatment, Medicaid postpartum coverage extensions in most States and DC, federal programs and state participation in maternal health review and safety initiatives, and community-based care approaches and telehealth as promising ways to improve outcomes. The resolution supports raising awareness, encouraging action by federal, state, local, Tribal, and health organizations and providers, promoting initiatives to eliminate disparities and ensure respectful care, honoring those who died, and recognizing the need for investments in maternal health.
The resolution designates a specific day for awareness and asks many groups—States, territories, Tribes, local communities, public health organizations, physicians, and health care providers—to work on reducing maternal deaths and improving care. It promotes attention to disparities, respectful maternity care, community-based care models, and expanding workforce and telehealth. The resolution does not itself create new programs or specific funding in the text provided; it is a formal statement of support and goals.
No publicly available information on costs. The resolution does not authorize specific spending or create a new funding program in the text provided.
Supporters want to raise public awareness about maternal mortality and morbidity, highlight that many pregnancy-related deaths are preventable, and encourage action to reduce adverse outcomes. They emphasize addressing racial, geographic, and economic disparities, promoting respectful and equitable maternity care, supporting community-based models (midwifery, doulas, perinatal health workers, group prenatal care), expanding the maternal health workforce and telehealth, and making meaningful investments to improve maternal safety. The resolution also honors people who died from pregnancy-related causes.
No publicly available information.