HR1819: HR1819 Birth Responders Day; May 8, 2026; recognize

26 LC 129 1415 House Resolution 1819 By: Representative Cannon of the 58th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring Birth Responders and proclaiming May 8 , 2026, as Birth1 Responders Day; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Birth Responders is an innovative maternal response an d wellness model3 founded by Safira Zayas to address the urgent need for compassionate, culturally responsive,4 and specialized maternal transport, emergency support, and wellness services for women and5 families in both rural and urban communities; and6 WHEREAS, Birth Responders was born from Safira Zayas's lived experience, professional7 training, and unwavering commitment to reproductive justice, ma ternal wellness, and the8 preservation of life, particularly for women and infants affected by longstanding disparities9 in maternal health outcomes; and10 WHEREAS, Safira Zayas is a devoted mother of four adult childre n, grandmother of six11 grandchildren, and a multifaceted healthcare and wellness professional whose work has been12 shaped by her service as a reproductive justice advocate, doula, traditional midwife, massage13 therapist, and emergency medical technician; and14 H. R. 1819 - 1 - 26 LC 129 1415 WHEREAS, through years of service to mothers, babies, and famil ies, Safira Zayas15 recognized a critical gap in emergency maternal support systems and responded by16 envisioning a model that bridges pre-hospital care, maternal transport, birth support, neonatal17 resuscitation awareness, infant CPR education, and holistic wellness services; and18 WHEREAS, Birth Responders represents a pioneering and much-needed niche in community19 care by combining maternal health advocacy, birth worker knowledge, emergency medical20 response, and family-centered support into a model designed to improve outcomes and21 restore dignity, safety, and trust for women during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum22 recovery, and maternal crisis; and23 WHEREAS, Birth Responders is also committed to building a workf orce pathway for24 women, doulas, midwives, and other birth workers by creating meaningful opportunities for25 training, certification, leadership, and economic empowerment, with the goal of improving26 not only maternal health outcomes but also the quality of life and long-term stability of27 families and communities; and28 WHEREAS, by developing a workforce rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and29 specialized maternal care, Birth Responders seeks to open doors for women to transform30 their gifts into sustainable careers that strengthen households , create generational31 opportunity, and expand the maternal health support system throughout Georgia; and32 WHEREAS, the mission of Birth Responders is especially significant in the State of Georgia,33 where families in underserved communities, including rural area s and historically34 marginalized populations, continue to face barriers to timely maternal care, transportation35 access, emergency response, and culturally responsive support; and36 H. R. 1819 - 2 - 26 LC 129 1415 WHEREAS, Birth Responders further advances education, prevention, and preparedness by37 promoting maternal wellness, infant safety, neonatal resuscitation support, and infant CPR38 awareness, thereby strengthening emergency response capacity as well as family and39 community resilience; and40 WHEREAS, Safira Zayas has dedicated her life's work to ensuring that no woman feels41 unseen, unsupported, or unprotected during one of the most vulnerable and sacred times of42 her life, and Birth Responders stands as a reflection of her vision, courage, innovation, and43 service to the people of Georgia; and44 WHEREAS, the establishment of Birth Responders Day would recognize not only the launch45 of a groundbreaking maternal response initiative, but also the importance of protecting46 mothers, supporting infants, uplifting families, creating workforce opportunities for women47 birth workers, and advancing safer birth outcomes throughout Georgia and beyond.48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that49 the members of this body recognize and honor Birth Responders f or its visionary and50 compassionate contribution to maternal health, emergency respon se, and workforce51 development in the State of Georgia.52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that May 8, 2026, is hereby proclaimed as Birth Responders53 Day in honor of the launch of Birth Responders and in celebration of the vision, service, and54 leadership of Safira Zayas.55 H. R. 1819 - 3 - 26 LC 129 1415 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized56 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Safira57 Zayas and Birth Responders.58 H. R. 1819 - 4 -