HR426: HR426 General Assembly; support creation of a Black Maternal Health Caucus; urge

25 LC 60 0105 House Resolution 426 By: Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Jackson of the 68th, Davis of the 87th, Cannon of the 58th, Burnough of the 77th, and others A RESOLUTION Urging the General Assembly to support the creation of a Black Maternal Health Caucus; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, the United States has one of the highest rates of mate rnal mortality among3 high-income countries, with approximately 700 to 900 pregnancy related deaths per year; and4 WHEREAS, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 805 percent of pregnancy related deaths in the United States are preventable; and6 WHEREAS, the United States has one of the highest infant mortal ity rates among7 high-income countries, currently ranking 33 out of 36 countries belonging to the8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with an average of 5.589 deaths per 1,000 live births; and10 WHEREAS, there is a growing body of evidence that racism and ra cial bias in healthcare11 systems contribute to the national maternal mortality and morbi dity crisis and infant12 mortality and morbidity, in particular for Black pregnant and postpartum women and infants;13 and14 H. R. 426 - 1 - 25 LC 60 0105 WHEREAS, in the United States, Black women are three to four times more likely to die of15 pregnancy related causes than non-Hispanic white women, which is a disparity that cannot16 be fully explained by differences in access to prenatal care, s ocioeconomic status, and17 general physical health; and18 WHEREAS, a key objective of the Georgia Department of Public Health is to reduce health19 and mental health disparities among vulnerable and underserved communities and to achieve20 health equity throughout Georgia, which s hould include health e quity for Black pregnant21 women and infants; and22 WHEREAS, statistics have shown that Georgia has one of the high est maternal mortality23 rates in the United States at almost twice the national rate; and24 WHEREAS, in Georgia, Black women are almost three times more likely to die of pregnancy25 related causes than non-Hispanic white women; and26 WHEREAS, Georgia has experienced a string of hospital labor and delivery closures across27 the state, especially in rural areas; and28 WHEREAS, in Georgia, 34.6 percent of counties are defined as ma ternity care deserts,29 compared to 32.6 percent in the United States; and30 WHEREAS, chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity,31 and diabetes, contribute to high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality, and, in Georgia,32 Black women have egregious above-average rates of all of these conditions, resulting in33 high-risk pregnancies and poor maternal health outcomes; and34 H. R. 426 - 2 - 25 LC 60 0105 WHEREAS, Medicaid coverage for doula care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is35 linked to improved maternal and infant health outcomes, as doula-assisted mothers were four36 times less likely to have a baby with low birth weight, two times less likely to experience a37 birth complication for the mother or infant, and significantly more likely to initiate38 breastfeeding; and39 WHEREAS, access to quality prenatal, perinatal, and postpartum care is essential to40 improving Black maternal health outcomes and reducing preventable maternal deaths; and41 WHEREAS, the establishment of a dedicated Georgia legislative B lack Maternal Health42 Caucus will provide the necessary framework to research, develo p, and recommend43 evidence-based policies and programs to improve maternal health in Georgia; and44 WHEREAS, the establishment of a Georgia legislative Black Maternal Health Caucus will45 serve as a coalition of members dedicated to increasing awareness and raising issues related46 to poor maternal health outcomes and disparities among Black wo men, including47 disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortali ty compared to their white48 counterparts.49 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that50 the members of this body urge the General Assembly to create a Georgia legislative Black51 Maternal Health Caucus as a venue for members to organize aroun d Georgia's maternal52 health crisis and advance policy solutions to improve maternal health outcomes and end53 disparities.54 H. R. 426 - 3 - 25 LC 60 0105 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized55 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the56 public and the press.57 H. R. 426 - 4 -