A resolution designating January 23, 2026, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 590 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 590

  Designating January 23, 2026, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2026

Mr. Booker (for himself, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Hickenlooper, Mrs. Capito, Mr. 
    Schiff, Ms. Alsobrooks, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Designating January 23, 2026, as ``Maternal Health Awareness Day''.

Whereas each year in the United States, on average, more than 600 women 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 2024;
Whereas, according to the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-
        Agency Group, the United States is one of 4 countries in the world with 
        a significant percentage increase in the maternal mortality from 2000 to 
        2023;
Whereas, of the pregnancy-related deaths that occurred in the United States in 
        2021--

    (1) approximately 19.5 percent occurred during pregnancy;

    (2) approximately 9.1 percent occurred the day of delivery;

    (3) approximately 14.1 percent occurred 1 to 6 days postpartum;

    (4) approximately 29.2 percent occurred 7 to 42 days postpartum; and

    (5) approximately 28.1 percent occurred between 43 days and 1 year 
postpartum;

Whereas 87 percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States in 2021 are 
        considered preventable;
Whereas, from 2016 to 2021, the rate of severe maternal morbidity (``SMM''), 
        which includes unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that can result 
        in significant short- and long-term health consequences, increased by 40 
        percent;
Whereas approximately 20 percent of mothers who give birth in the United States 
        report experiencing mistreatment;
Whereas postpartum depression affects a significant percentage of new mothers 
        who give birth, with estimates ranging from 10 to 20 percent of mothers 
        who give birth experiencing depressive symptoms during the first year 
        after childbirth, but many postpartum depression cases go undiagnosed 
        and untreated, often due to a lack of screening;
Whereas various social and systemic factors can influence maternal health 
        outcomes and contribute to disparities in care;
Whereas significant disparities in maternal health outcomes exist in the United 
        States, including that--

    (1) the 2024 pregnancy-related mortality ratio for Black women is more 
than 3 times higher than for White women;

    (2) the 2024 pregnancy-related mortality ratio for American Indian and 
Alaska Native women is more than 4 times as high as for White women;

    (3) in 2021, based on hospital records for impatient deliveries, the 
rate of SMM for Black women was 91 percent higher than the rate for White 
non-Hispanic women;

    (4) the rate of severe maternal morbidity for Black and Asian-Pacific 
Islander women is approximately twice as high as the rate for White women;

    (5) women who live in rural areas have a greater rate of severe 
maternal morbidity and mortality compared to women who live in urban areas;

    (6) 59 percent of rural counties are considered a maternity care 
desert;

    (7) rural counties with more Black residents and lower median incomes 
are less likely to have access to hospital obstetric services;

    (8) the average travel time to reach a birthing hospital in maternity 
care deserts is 2.6 times longer than in full access counties; and

    (9) American Indian and Alaska Native individuals have a preterm birth 
rate of 12.5 percent, whereas White individuals have a preterm birth rate 
of 9.5 percent;

Whereas 48 States and the District of Columbia have adopted the option to extend 
        coverage for postpartum care under Medicaid to 12 months;
Whereas 46 States and 6 United States territories and Freely Associated States 
        receive funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention via 
        the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality 
        program to support maternal mortality review committees to identify, 
        review, and characterize pregnancy-related deaths and to identify 
        prevention opportunities;
Whereas State and local maternal mortality review committees are positioned to 
        comprehensively assess maternal deaths and identify opportunities for 
        prevention;
Whereas 49 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico 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 increasing the maternal health care workforce and expanding telehealth 
        services can help reduce the 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, 2026, 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 meaningful 
        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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