HR 1744: Black Maternal Heath Week; April 11-17, 2026; recognize

House Resolution 1744

By: Representatives Clark of the 108th, Cannon of the 58th, Hugley of the 141st, Miller of the 62nd, Evans of the 57th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing April 11-17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Inc., 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 persons; and

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women in the United States are two to three times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes; and

WHEREAS, Black women and individuals living in low-income and rural communities in the United States are among those most likely to suffer from life-threatening pregnancy complications, known as maternal morbidities; and

WHEREAS, maternal mortality rates in the United States are among the highest in the developed world, with 23.8 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020; 32.9 in 2021; 22.3 in 2022; and 18.6 in 2023; and

WHEREAS, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among affluent countries, in part because of the disproportionate mortality rate of Black women; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2025 CDC Report, in 2023 the United States maternal mortality rate decreased rate 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; and

WHEREAS, as of 2023, the maternal mortality rate in Georgia is 30.4 per 100,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate is 7.0 per 1,000 live births; and

WHEREAS, according to the Georgia Department of Health, 87 percent of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable; and

WHEREAS, Black women are 50 percent more likely than all other women to give birth to premature, low birthweight, and very low birthweight infants; and

WHEREAS, the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women persist across all income levels, education levels, and socioeconomic statuses; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that more than 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; and

WHEREAS, the leading causes of maternal mortality among Black women and birthing persons include eclampsia, preeclampsia, postpartum cardiomyopathy, and obstetric embolism, all of which disproportionately impact Black women and birthing people; and

WHEREAS, 34.9 percent of live births in Georgia are delivered via Cesarean section, with Black infant Cesarean births reaching 38.0 percent from 2022-2024; and

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; and

WHEREAS, racism and discrimination play a consequential role in maternal health care experiences and the outcomes of Black birthing people; and

WHEREAS, the overturning of Roe v. Wade impacts Black women and birthing people's right to reproductive healthcare and bodily autonomy and further perpetuates reproductive oppression as a tool to control women's bodies; and

WHEREAS, a fair and wide distribution of resources and birth options, especially with regard to reproductive health care services and maternal health programming, are critical to addressing inequities in maternal health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, states and rural counties with higher Black population rates experience severe maternity care deserts, where hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care and obstetric providers are lacking, and access to reproductive health care providers is further diminished due to low Medicaid reimbursements, rising costs, and persistent health care workforce shortages; and

WHEREAS, Georgia counties face higher rates of maternity care deserts at 36 percent compared to the national average of 32.6 percent, where women of childbearing age do not have access to hospitals or birth centers offering maternity care or obstetric providers; and

WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality, as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birthing people are far from their providers; and

WHEREAS, Black midwives, doulas, perinatal health workers, and community-based organizations provide holistic maternal care and support but face structural and legal barriers to licensure, reimbursement, and the provision of care; and

WHEREAS, Black women and birthing persons experience increased barriers to accessing prenatal and postpartum care, including maternal mental health care; and

WHEREAS, there are concerted efforts to increase uptake of maternal vaccinations; and

WHEREAS, even as there is growing concern about improving access to mental health services, Black women are the least likely to have access to mental health screenings, treatment, and support before, during, and after pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Black pregnant and postpartum workers are disproportionately denied reasonable accommodations in the workplace, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Black pregnant people disproportionately experience surveillance and punishment, including shackling incarcerated people during labor, drug testing mothers and infants without informed consent, separating mothers from their newborns, and criminalizing pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage; and

WHEREAS, Black women and birthing people experience pervasive racial injustice in the criminal justice, social, and health care systems; and

WHEREAS, justice-informed, culturally congruent models of care are beneficial to Black women; and

WHEREAS, investments should be made in maternity care for Black women and birthing persons, including care led by the communities most affected by the maternal health crisis in the State of Georgia; continuous health insurance coverage to support Black women and birthing persons for the full postpartum period at least one year after giving birth; and 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 BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize April 11-17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press.