A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2026, as "Black Maternal Health Week", founded by 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 people.
Black Maternal Health Week: National Recognition
This resolution is currently in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for review. It is not yet scheduled for a vote and is waiting for committee action. There are no companion bills listed for this measure at this time.
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Commemorative resolutions like this are standard practice and usually pass with unanimous support because they do not change laws or require new spending.
Key Points
- This resolution officially names the week of April 11 through April 17, 2026, as Black Maternal Health Week. The goal is to bring national attention to the high rates of death and health problems Black women face during and after pregnancy.
- Government data shows that Black women are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. While death rates have recently gone down for other groups, they have continued to rise for Black women to over 50 deaths per 100,000 births.
- The resolution notes that over 80 percent of these deaths could be prevented. It points to problems like a lack of hospitals in certain areas, the high cost of care, and the need for more support from midwives and doulas who provide specialized care.
- It asks Congress to support policies that provide health insurance for a full year after birth. It also suggests that fixing health gaps requires better access to safe housing, clean water, and fair pay for workers.
Impact Analysis
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Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1824-1825)
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Submitted in Senate
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
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Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 11 through April 17, 2026, as "Black Maternal Health Week", founded by 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 people.
Data Sources
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