Blog Archives

Resolved, That the Senate— (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in providing respectful, responsive care to all women, including women in underserved communities who lack access to maternal health services; (2) acknowledges that doula support services provide continuous physical and emotional support to help mothers achieve healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries and recoveries; (3) urges greater recognition for the important role that doulas play in— (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes, including maternal mental health; (B) reducing health care costs and working towards the elimination of health disparities; and (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low-income women of color and women in rural areas with access to health and social supports; (4) designates the week beginning May 9, 2021, as “Doula Week” to raise awareness for, and advocate for the benefits of, doulas and the support services doulas provide; and (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula support services, especially in underserved communities.

The Perinatal Workforce Act makes historic investments to increase the number of maternity care providers and non-clinical perinatal health workers who offer culturally congruent care and support during and after pregnancy. The Perinatal Workforce Act will: 1. Require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to (1) provide guidance to states on the promotion of racially, ethnically, and professionally diverse maternity care teams and (2) to study how culturally congruent maternity care promotes better outcomes for moms, especially in communities of color. 2. Provide funding to establish and scale programs that will grow and diversify the maternal health clinical and non-clinical workforce, increasing the number of nurses, midwives, physician assistants, doulas, and other perinatal health workers who moms can trust throughout their pregnancies, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. 3. Study the barriers that prevent women – particularly from underserved communities – from entering maternity care professions and receiving equitable compensation.

The Data to Save Moms Act makes critical investments that will advance evidence-based solutions to the United States maternal health crisis and will be able to identify and fund interventions to save moms’ lives and end maternal health disparities. The Data to Save Moms Act will: 1. Promote greater diversity and community engagement in state and Tribal Maternal Mortality Review Committees. 2. Conduct a comprehensive review of maternal health data collection process and quality measures in coordination with key stakeholders. 3. Commission a comprehensive study on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among Native American moms. 4. Invest in maternal health research at Minority-Serving Institutions like Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions.

Resolved, That the Senate— (1) recognizes the important role of doulas in providing respectful, responsive care to all women, including women in underserved communities who lack access to maternal health services; (2) acknowledges that doula support services provide continuous physical and emotional support to help mothers achieve healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries and recoveries; (3) urges greater recognition for the important role that doulas play in— (A) supporting improved pregnancy, birth, and postpartum outcomes, including maternal mental health; (B) reducing health care costs and working towards the elimination of health disparities; and (C) overcoming barriers for assisting low-income women of color and women in rural areas with access to health and social supports; (4) designates the week beginning May 9, 2021, as “Doula Week” to raise awareness for, and advocate for the benefits of, doulas and the support services doulas provide; and (5) recognizes the importance of access to doula support services, especially in underserved communities.

The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act makes critical investments to address social determinants of health, provide funding for community-based organizations, grow and diversify the perinatal health workforce, expand access to maternal mental health care, address the effects of climate change on maternal and infant health, and improve data collection processes.

The Social Determinants for Moms Act makes key investments in social determinants to save moms and end disparities in maternal health outcomes. The Social Determinants for Moms Act will establish a government Task Force to Address the US Maternal Health Crisis. It will also establish a Social Determinants of Maternal Health Fund to provide robust, sustained funding for community-based organizations, Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, Urban Indian organizations, and public health departments to address social determinants of health during and after pregnancy – including housing, transportation, nutrition, environmental conditions, and other local needs.