SR544: SR544 Black Maternal Health Week; recognize April 11-17, 2025

25 LC 112 3462 Senate Resolution 544 By: Senators Jackson of the 41st, Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Brass of the 6th and Jones II of the 22nd A RESOLUTION Recognizing April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week was founded by the Black Ma mas Matter2 Alliance, Inc., to bring national attention to the maternal and reproductive health crisis in the3 United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black4 women and birthing persons; and5 WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in6 the United States are two to three times more likely than White women to die from7 pregnancy-related causes; and8 WHEREAS, Black women and individuals living in low-income and rural communities in9 the United States are among those most likely to suffer from li fe-threatening pregnancy10 complications, known as maternal morbidities; and11 WHEREAS, the United States has the highest maternal mortality r ate among affluent12 countries, in part because of the disproportionate mortality rate of Black women; and13 S. R. 544 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3462 WHEREAS, in 2023, the maternal mortality rate in the United States decreased for White,14 Hispanic, and Asian women but increased to 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black15 women; and16 WHEREAS, the maternal mortality rate in Georgia is 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, and17 the infant mortality rate is 7.1 deaths per 1,000 live births; and18 WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fou nd that more than 8019 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and20 WHEREAS, Black women are 50 percent more likely than all other women to give birth to21 premature, low birthweight, and very low birthweight infants; and22 WHEREAS, the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women persist across all23 income levels, education levels, and socioeconomic statuses; and24 WHEREAS, the leading causes of maternal mortality among Black w omen and birthing25 persons include eclampsia, preeclampsia, postpartum cardiomyopa thy, and obstetric26 embolism, all of which disproportionately impact Black women and birthing people; and27 WHEREAS, Georgia has the highest rate of Caesarean section deliveries with 35.8 percent28 of live births resulting in C-sections, and Black infants experienced the highest rate at 38.129 percent from 2021 to 2023; and30 WHEREAS, states and rural counties with higher Black population s experience severe31 maternity care deserts, where hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care and obstetric32 providers are lacking, and access to reproductive health care providers is further diminished33 S. R. 544 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3462 due to low Medicaid reimbursements, rising costs, and persisten t health care workforce34 shortages; and35 WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality,36 as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birthing people are far from their37 providers; and38 WHEREAS, Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, and community-based39 organizations provide holistic maternal care and support but face structural and legal barriers40 to licensure, reimbursement, and the provision of care; and41 WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week serves as an opportunity to deepen the national42 conversation about Black maternal health, amplify solutions, and center the voices of Black43 women, families, and stakeholders.44 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body45 recognize April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week.46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed47 to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the48 press.49 S. R. 544 - 3 -