This resolution supports designating September 19, 2025, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day to recognize affected families and promote efforts to reduce stillbirths.
Ashley Hinson
Representative
IA-2
This resolution supports designating September 19, 2025, as "National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day" to recognize the devastating impact of stillbirths on American families. It aims to raise awareness, support proven prevention methods, and encourage further research and data collection to reduce stillbirth rates. The resolution also celebrates recent legislative action to increase federal funding for these critical efforts.
New Resolution Designates September 19, 2025, as National Stillbirth Awareness Day, Pushing for Research Funding
This resolution is laser-focused on one thing: officially designating September 19, 2025, as "National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day." It’s a formal recognition of the over 21,000 families in the U.S. who experience this tragedy every year, and it’s a push to make sure those numbers start dropping.
The Stark Reality: Why This Matters
When you hear a number like 21,000, it can sound abstract, but the resolution puts it in perspective: that’s more than the combined deaths from the top five causes for kids under 15. This isn't just a sad statistic; it's a serious public health crisis that often gets overlooked. The resolution highlights that this crisis hits some communities much harder than others, specifically mentioning that Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic families face disproportionately higher risks. For expecting parents, this resolution is about bringing awareness and resources to help lower those risks, especially in communities where the health system has historically failed.
Turning Awareness into Action
While resolutions are often symbolic, this one is tied directly to tangible federal action. It celebrates the recent passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2024. Why does that matter? Because that act unlocks federal funding for stillbirth research and prevention activities. This resolution acts as a spotlight, urging federal agencies to use that new money effectively. It’s essentially the House of Representatives saying, “We passed the check; now we need to see the results.” The goal is to promote evidence-based prevention methods, which means better screening, better monitoring, and better care for pregnant people.
What This Means for Everyday People
If you or someone you know is planning a family, this designation is a signal that stillbirth prevention is finally getting national attention. By asking the President to issue a formal proclamation, the resolution aims to create a nationwide conversation on September 19th about risk factors and prevention strategies. For healthcare workers and researchers, it means continued support for better data collection—understanding why these stillbirths are happening is the first step to stopping them. Ultimately, this resolution is a clear, positive step toward prioritizing maternal and child health, making sure that expecting parents have access to the information and care needed to bring a healthy baby home.