Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have announced that their bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act has unanimously passed the Senate and is now awaiting President Biden's signature to become law. The legislation aims to reduce the high rate of stillbirths and maternal mortality in the United States by allocating more federal resources for stillbirth prevention activities and research.

Currently, one out of every 75 U.S. births results in a stillbirth, totaling nearly 21,000 annually—exceeding the number of infants who die during their first year of life.

“This pro-life bill is nearly a law. This is a great step towards saving the lives of babies and mothers,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Every life is precious, and today, Congress affirmed that by improving access to stillbirth prevention.”

Senator Merkley highlighted the widespread impact of stillbirths: “Stillbirth upends the lives of parents and families in Oregon and communities across America. Nearly 1 in 4 stillbirths are potentially preventable, and this crisis disproportionately impacts Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities. Our Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is going to go a long way toward tackling this public health crisis by pouring robust federal resources into stillbirth prevention activities and research. I look forward to President Biden swiftly signing this bill into law.”

Emily Price, CEO of Healthy Birth Day, Inc., expressed gratitude for the legislation: “The successful passage of The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act means the voices of thousands of grieving mothers, fathers, siblings, and grandparents made a powerful difference, and Congress acted. This never would have happened without the leadership of Senators Jeff Merkley and Bill Cassidy – and to them we are forever grateful. Thousands of babies’ lives will be saved because of this legislation.”

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act amends Title V of the Social Security Act to clarify that funds can be used for stillbirth prevention activities and research.

Data comparing the United States with other countries indicate that more must be done domestically to prevent stillbirths. Over the past two decades, the U.S. stillbirth rate has declined by only 0.4 percent. A World Health Organization report ranked the United States 183rd out of 195 countries in terms of progress on improving stillbirth rates.

The bill received cosponsorship from U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jim Risch (R-ID), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is endorsed by various organizations including Healthy Birth Day, 1st Breath, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, March of Dimes, Mom Congress, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy among others.

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