Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0237

HR0237 LRB104 12780 MST 24051 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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 people living in low-income and rural communities in the United States are 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 U.S maternal mortality rate decreased 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, KFF, which was formerly known as The Kaiser Family Foundation, reported that from 2018-2022, the maternal mortality rate in Illinois was 18 per 100,000 live births; and

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

WHEREAS, The high rates of maternal mortality among Black women span across income levels, education levels, and socioeconomic status; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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, and these conditions impact Black women and birthing people disproportionately; 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 outcomes of Black birthing people; and

WHEREAS, The overturn 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, is critical to addressing inequities in maternal health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, States and rural counties with higher Black population rates have severe maternity care deserts, where there are no hospitals or birth centers offering obstetric care and no obstetric providers and diminished access to reproductive healthcare providers due to low Medicaid reimbursements, rising costs, and persistent healthcare workforce shortages; and

WHEREAS, Illinoisans face higher rates of maternity care deserts with 34.3 percent of counties defined as maternity care deserts compared to the 32.6 percent national average, 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 away 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 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, COVID-19, which has disproportionately harmed Black Americans, is associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal complications; and

WHEREAS, New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that since the COVID-19 pandemic, the maternal mortality rate for Black women has increased by 26 percent; 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 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, An investment must 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 Illinois, 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; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 11-17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize that Black women are experiencing high, disproportionate rates of maternal mortality and morbidity in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize that the alarmingly high rates of maternal mortality among Black women are unacceptable and unjust; and be it further

RESOLVED, In order to better mitigate the effects of systemic and structural racism, the Black community must have (1) safe and affordable housing, (2) transportation equity, (3) nutritious food, (4) clean air and water, (5) environments free from toxins, (6) decriminalization, removal of civil penalties, end of surveillance, and end of mandatory reporting within the criminal and family regulation system, (7) safety and freedom from violence, (8) a living wage, (9) equal economic opportunity, (10) a sustained and expansive workforce pipeline for diverse perinatal professionals, and (11) comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable health care, including access to the full spectrum of reproductive care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in order to improve maternal health outcomes, we must fully support and encourage policies grounded in the human rights, reproductive justice, and birth justice frameworks that address maternal health inequities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Black women and birthing persons must be active participants in the policy decisions that impact their lives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That in order to ensure access to safe and respectful maternal health care for Black birthing people, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act and other legislation rooted in human rights that seeks to improve maternal care and outcomes must be passed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Black Maternal Health Week is an opportunity (1) to deepen the national conversation about Black maternal health in the United States, (2) to amplify and invest in community-driven policy, research, and quality care solutions, (3) to center the voices of Black Mamas, women, families, and stakeholders, (4) to provide a national platform for Black-led entities and efforts on maternal and mental health, birth equity, and reproductive justice, (5) to enhance community organizing on Black maternal health, and (6) to support efforts to increase funding and advance policies for Black-led and centered community-based organizations and perinatal birth workers that provide the full spectrum of reproductive, maternal, and sexual healthcare.