HR 451 — A Resolution recognizing the week of April 11 through 17, 2026, as "Black Maternal Health Week" in Pennsylvania to bring attention to the maternal health crisis and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.

PRINTER'S NO.   3062

                   THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 451
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY CURRY, MAYES, CEPHAS, WAXMAN, PIELLI, HOHENSTEIN,
        PROBST, BOYD, VENKAT, SHUSTERMAN, RIVERA, HILL-EVANS,
        HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ AND McNEILL, MARCH 23, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MARCH 24, 2026


                                 A RESOLUTION
 1   Recognizing the week of April 11 through 17, 2026, as "Black
 2      Maternal Health Week" in Pennsylvania to bring attention to
 3      the maternal health crisis and the importance of reducing
 4      maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.
 5      WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
 6   Prevention, Black women in the United States are more than three
 7   times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related
 8   causes; and
 9      WHEREAS, The United States has the highest maternal mortality
10   rate among affluent countries, in part because of the
11   disproportionate maternal mortality rate of Black women; and
12      WHEREAS, The rate of preterm births among Black women is
13   nearly 50% higher than the preterm birth rate among White or
14   Hispanic women; and
15      WHEREAS, The high rates of maternal mortality among Black
16   women span across income levels, education levels and
17   socioeconomic status; and
18      WHEREAS, In 2021, the overall pregnancy-associated mortality
 1   rate for this Commonwealth was 97 deaths per 100,000 live
 2   births; and
 3        WHEREAS, In 2021, the pregnancy-associated mortality rate for
 4   non-Hispanic Blacks was 186 deaths per 100,000 live births, more
 5   than two times the rate of deaths for non-Hispanic Whites; and
 6        WHEREAS, More than half of deaths occurred after the end of
 7   the pregnancy; and
 8        WHEREAS, In 2021, 98% of pregnancy-related deaths in this
 9   Commonwealth were considered preventable; and
10        WHEREAS, Fifty-three percent of cases of maternal death in
11   this Commonwealth between 2013 and 2018 affected mothers who
12   were enrolled in medical assistance when they delivered; and
13        WHEREAS, Approximately half of pregnancy-associated death
14   cases in this Commonwealth between 2013 and 2018 did not receive
15   adequate prenatal care; and
16        WHEREAS, Philadelphia County accounts for 20% of this
17   Commonwealth's maternal deaths; and
18        WHEREAS, Philadelphia County's rate of pregnancy-related
19   deaths from 2013 to 2018 was approximately 20 per 100,000 live
20   births, which is higher than the 2018 national rate of 17.4 per
21   100,000 live births; and
22        WHEREAS, In 2018, pregnancy-related deaths for Black women in
23   Pittsburgh were higher than 97% of similar cities in the United
24   States, despite starting prenatal care earlier than Black
25   pregnant women in similar cities and having lower rates of
26   gestational diabetes, hypertension and infection; therefore be
27   it
28        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
29   week of April 11 through 17, 2026, as "Black Maternal Health
30   Week" in Pennsylvania to bring attention to the maternal health

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1   crisis and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and
2   morbidity among Black women.




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