Grassley & Hinson Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral National Stillbirth Prevention Day Resolution

Grassley & Hinson Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral National Stillbirth Prevention Day Resolution

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) teamed up with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) to introduce a resolution designating today, September 19^th, as National Stillbirth Prevention Day. Grassley this morning delivered remarks at a reception Iowa-based Health Birth Day, Inc. hosted to celebrate congressional progress on stillbirth awareness and prevention measures.

"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," Grassley said. "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."

"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," Hinson said.

"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," Merkley said. "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."

"Thousands of families grapple with the unimaginable pain of stillbirths, and, devastatingly, Black women and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by these tragedies," Booker said. "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."

"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 to giving more families a chance to be whole. This is just the beginning, and I am committed to doing my part on behalf of all of America's families," Adams said.

Background:

An alarming 21,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. While the overall stillbirth rate has marginally declined in recent decades, racial disparities in birth outcomes persist. The National Stillbirth Prevention Day resolution recognizes families who've endured stillbirths and calls attention to the medical community's work to tackle the crisis, supporting greater maternal health care access as part of the solution. This summer, the president signed into law their bill to make evidence-based stillbirth prevention projects eligible for federal funding.

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