Cedar Rapids Today

Today, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02), alongside Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day.

Earlier this year, Hinson's bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act was signed into law by President Biden to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America. With at least 25 percent of stillbirths being potentially preventable, the resolution stresses the need for continued stillbirth prevention activities in the United States.

“Over 21,000 babies are stillborn in the U.S. each year. This rate is unacceptably high, and we must do more to ensure more women experience healthy pregnancies and have healthy babies. I am proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to recognize September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention Day to raise awareness about stillbirth prevention so we can help save more moms and babies," said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

“A single family affected by stillbirth is one too many. Yet this tragedy impacts thousands across America, upending the lives of individuals and families from all walks of life. Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we must do more to reduce the alarming rate of stillbirth, which disproportionately impacts Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women. This National Stillbirth Prevention Day we recommit to doing everything we can to end this public health crisis so no one again ever has to experience the trauma of stillbirth,” stated Senator Jeff Merkley.

“Thousands of families grapple with the unimaginable pain of stillbirths, and devastatingly, Black women and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by these tragedies. By designating September 19 as National Stillbirth Prevention Day, we will help raise awareness, promote research and develop solutions so all mothers and babies, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to the care and support they deserve,” remarked Senator Cory Booker.

“Iowa has made strides towards reducing stillbirths in our state. This bipartisan resolution recognizes researchers like we have in Iowa as well as care providers and advocates. It also reaffirms our goal to improve maternal care resources particularly in rural areas. No mom should know the heartbreak of a stillbirth. I’m glad to be partnering on a number of federal legislative efforts to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives,” commented Senator Chuck Grassley.

“I was proud to co-lead the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act and see it pass into law this year which will increase awareness for families on how to prevent this painful yet common experience. Today we recommit to ending stillbirth and giving more families a chance to be whole. This is just the beginning; I am committed to doing my part on behalf of all America’s families," said Congresswoman Alma Adams.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every 175 U.S. births tragically results in stillbirth—accounting for nearly 21,000 stillbirths a year—more than those who pass away during their first year of life annually. In the last two decades, the U.S.'s stillbirth rate declined by only 0.4 percent according to a World Health Organization report comparing progress in improving stillborn rates globally where it ranked 183 out of 195 countries.

"For the third year in a row we pause recognizing crisis associated with national-level efforts towards preventing it while celebrating progress made thus far," stated Emily Price CEO Healthy Birth Day Inc., "When Congress acknowledges importance behind day through various mediums including media outreach --- progress happens saving countless lives nationwide."

The resolution is endorsed by numerous organizations including Healthy Birth Day Inc., Charles Martin Corvi Fund among others advocating maternal-child health issues within broader societal context ensuring necessary steps taken mitigate associated risks moving forward effectively addressing concerns raised therein comprehensively over time ahead collaboratively together stakeholders involved respective capacities alike universally shared objectives overall ultimately benefitting everyone concerned positively impacting outcomes achieved collectively beyond individual levels alone simultaneously synergistically combined towards greater good achieved holistically inclusively equitably sustainably enduringly perpetually long-term basis ideally envisioned aspirationally hoped realized tangibly meaningfully substantively concretely significantly importantly decisively conclusively satisfactorily commendably praiseworthily meritoriously admirably worthily laudably honorably nobly rightly 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