H.Res. 1183

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1183 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1183

Supporting the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 
2026, as ``Black Maternal Health Week'', founded by Black Mamas Matter 
Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), to bring national attention to the maternal and 
reproductive health crisis in the United States and the importance of 
reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and 
birthing people.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 16, 2026

Ms. Adams (for herself, Ms. Underwood, Mrs. Sykes, Mr. Figures, Mrs. 
McIver, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. McClellan, Ms. Johnson of Texas, 
Mr. Bishop, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, 
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Kennedy of New 
York, Mr. Torres of New York, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. 
Meeks, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Barragan, Ms. 
Brown, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mrs. Torres of California, Ms. Norton, 
Ms. Morrison, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Mr. Gottheimer, Mrs. Watson Coleman, 
Ms. Simon, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Salinas, 
Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Omar, and Ms. Scanlon) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Supporting the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 
2026, as ``Black Maternal Health Week'', founded by Black Mamas Matter 
Alliance, Inc. (BMMA), to bring national attention to the maternal and 
reproductive health crisis in the United States and the importance of 
reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and 
birthing people.

Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black 
women in the United States are 2-3 times more likely than White women to 
die from pregnancy-related causes;
Whereas Black women and people living in low-income and rural communities in the 
United States suffer from life-threatening pregnancy complications, 
known as ``maternal morbidities'', twice as often as White women;
Whereas the maternal mortality rate in the United States--

(1) is among the highest in the developed world; and

(2) was 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, 32.9 in 2021, 22.3 
in 2022, and 18.6 in 2023;

Whereas the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent 
countries, driven in part by systemic inequities in health care that 
disproportionately and unjustly affect Black women;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, 
the United States maternal mortality rate decreased for White (14.5), 
Hispanic (12.4), and Asian (10.7) women but increased to 50.3 deaths per 
100,000 live births for Black women;
Whereas Black women are 50 percent more likely than all other women to give 
birth to premature and low birth weight infants;
Whereas the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across--

(1) income levels;

(2) education levels; and

(3) socioeconomic status;

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 80 
percent of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are 
preventable;
Whereas the leading causes of maternal mortality among Black women and birthing 
people include obstetric embolism, obstetric hemorrhage, eclampsia and 
preeclampsia, and postpartum cardiomyopathy, and these conditions impact 
Black women and birthing people disproportionately;
Whereas Black mothers have the highest rate of cesarean section deliveries;
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 maternal health 
care experiences and outcomes of Black birthing people;
Whereas the overturn of Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 (1973)) impacts Black women 
and birthing people's right to reproductive health care and bodily 
autonomy and further perpetuates reproductive oppression as a tool to 
control women's bodies;
Whereas a fair and wide distribution of economic resources and birth options, 
especially regarding reproductive health care services and maternal 
health programming, including prenatal, postpartum, family planning, and 
education programs, is critical to addressing inequities in maternal 
health outcomes;
Whereas communities of color are disproportionately affected by maternity care 
deserts, where there are no or limited hospitals or birth centers 
offering obstetric care and no or limited obstetric providers, and have 
diminishing access to reproductive health care due to low Medicaid 
reimbursements, rising costs, and persistent health care workforce 
shortages;
Whereas Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, and community-based 
organizations provide holistic maternal health care, but face systemic, 
structural, economic, and legal barriers to licensure, reimbursement, 
and provision of care;
Whereas Black women and birthing people experience increased structural and 
financial barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care, including 
maternal mental health care;
Whereas COVID-19, which has disproportionately harmed Black Americans, is 
associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and 
maternal and neonatal complications;
Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated 
that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the maternal mortality rate for Black 
women has increased by 26 percent;
Whereas Black pregnant women have historically low rates of vaccinations, which 
is associated with higher disparities in maternal health outcomes;
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, treatment, and support before, during, and after 
pregnancy;
Whereas Black pregnant and postpartum workers are disproportionately denied 
reasonable accommodations in the workplace, leading to adverse pregnancy 
outcomes;
Whereas Black pregnant people disproportionately experience surveillance and 
punishment, including shackling incarcerated people in labor, drug 
testing mothers and infants without informed consent, separating mothers 
from their newborns, and criminalizing pregnancy outcomes such as 
miscarriage;
Whereas Black women and birthing people experience pervasive racial injustice in 
the criminal justice, social, and health care systems;
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 people, including care 
led by the communities most affected by the maternal health crisis in the 
United States;

(2) continuous health insurance coverage to support Black women and 
birthing people for the full postpartum period at least 1 year after giving 
birth; and

(3) policies that support and promote affordable, comprehensive, and 
holistic maternal health care that is free from gender and racial 
discrimination, regardless of incarceration: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes that--
(1) Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate 
rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States;
(2) the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality among 
Black women are unacceptable and unjust;
(3) in order to better mitigate the effects of systemic and 
structural racism, Congress must work toward ensuring that the 
Black community has--
(A) safe and affordable housing;
(B) transportation equity;
(C) nutritious food;
(D) clean air and water;
(E) environments free from toxins;
(F) decriminalization, removal of civil penalties, 
end of surveillance, and end of mandatory reporting 
within the criminal and family regulation system;
(G) safety and freedom from violence, especially 
violence perpetrated by government actors;
(H) a living wage;
(I) equal economic opportunity;
(J) a sustained and expansive workforce pipeline 
for diverse perinatal professionals; and
(K) comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable 
health care including access to the full spectrum of 
reproductive care;
(4) in order to improve maternal health outcomes, Congress 
must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the human 
rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks that 
address maternal health inequities;
(5) Black women and birthing people must be active 
participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives;
(6) in order to ensure access to safe and respectful 
maternal health care for Black birthing people, Congress must 
pass the Momnibus Act and other legislation rooted in human 
rights that seek to improve maternal care and outcomes; and
(7) ``Black Maternal Health Week'' is an opportunity to--
(A) deepen the national conversation about Black 
maternal health in the United States;
(B) amplify and invest in community-driven policy, 
research, and quality care solutions;
(C) center the voices of Black Mamas Matter 
Alliance, inc., women, families, and stakeholders;
(D) provide a national platform for Black-led 
entities and efforts on maternal and mental health, 
birth equity, and reproductive justice;
(E) enhance community organizing on Black maternal 
health; and
(F) support efforts to increase funding and advance 
policies for Black-led and centered community-based 
organizations and perinatal birth workers that provide 
the full spectrum of reproductive, maternal, and sexual 
health care.
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