Designates April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about and address the high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.
Alma Adams
Representative
NC-12
This bill supports the designation of April 11-17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" to raise awareness about the maternal health crisis affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S. It recognizes the unacceptable disparities in maternal mortality rates, where Black women are significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women. The bill urges Congress to address systemic racism and promote equitable access to resources, healthcare, and comprehensive maternal health programs for the Black community, while also supporting policies like the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. It aims to amplify Black voices, invest in community-led solutions, and increase funding for Black-led organizations and perinatal professionals.
Resolution Designates Black Maternal Health Week for April 2025, Urges Action on Crisis
This resolution officially supports designating April 11-17, 2025, as the eighth annual "Black Maternal Health Week." Its core purpose is to shine a national spotlight on the critical maternal and reproductive health crisis disproportionately affecting Black women and birthing people in the U.S., aiming to drive down the alarmingly high rates of death and complications related to pregnancy and childbirth within this community.
Sounding the Alarm: Why This Week Matters
The resolution doesn't mince words, pointing directly to the stark reality: Black women face a maternal mortality rate significantly higher than other groups. It cites recent data showing that while rates decreased for White, Hispanic, and Asian women in 2023, the rate for Black women tragically increased to 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births – nearly three times the rate for White women (14.5). The resolution identifies deep-rooted causes for this disparity, including systemic inequities, structural racism, and what experts call 'social determinants of health' – basically, the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, and age that affect health outcomes.
Beyond Awareness: What the Resolution Calls For
While designating a week is symbolic, the resolution uses this platform to urge concrete action from Congress. It calls for tackling systemic racism head-on by ensuring the Black community has equitable access to fundamentals like safe housing, reliable transportation, nutritious food, clean air and water, economic opportunity including a living wage, and comprehensive healthcare delivered by a diverse workforce. It specifically encourages policies designed to close the maternal health gap, emphasizes that Black women must be involved in crafting these solutions, and throws its support behind the passage of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a package of bills aimed at addressing the crisis. The resolution frames the week itself as a crucial time to foster dialogue, invest in community-based solutions, amplify Black voices, and boost support for Black-led maternal health organizations and birth workers. While these calls are powerful, turning broad goals like 'addressing systemic racism' or ensuring 'fair distribution of resources' into tangible change will depend on specific, detailed legislation and follow-through down the line.