Central Louisiana News

On July 15, 2024, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) announced the enactment of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act after it was signed into law. The legislation amends federal law to clarify that stillbirth prevention activities are an allowable use of federal funds, addressing the high rate of stillbirths and maternal mortality in the United States. Annually, one out of every 75 U.S. births results in stillbirths, totaling nearly 21,000 cases—exceeding the number of infants who die during their first year.

“This is a great pro-life win that saves lives,” said Dr. Cassidy. “All life is precious, from the mother to the baby. Today, we showed the nation we are committed to preventing stillbirths and saving lives.”

“A single stillbirth is one too many. We must do more to address this dire public health crisis, which devastates families and happens at a higher rate to Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women,” said Senator Merkley. “My Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act takes long overdue action to confront our stillbirth crisis head-on and protect mothers and children nationwide. I’ll keep fighting to deliver the necessary resources for stillbirth prevention and research, ending this public health crisis once and for all.”

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate and received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives with a vote of 408-3.

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) cosponsored the bill in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, it was led by Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Alma Adams (D-NC-12).

The act garnered support from various organizations including Healthy Birth Day, 1st Breath, Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, 2 Degrees Foundation, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, March of Dimes, Measure the Placenta, Mom Congress, PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, Reproductive and Placental Research Unit at Yale University School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Return to Zero: H.O.P.E., Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Every Mother Counts; Association of Women’s Health Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses; Start Healing Together; M.E.N.D.; Society for Reproductive Investigation; American College of Nurse-Midwives; What to Expect Project; Postpartum Support International; Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation; National Education Association; Association of Schools & Programs Public Health; National Association Nurse Practitioners Women’s Health; Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance; SUDC Foundation; RH Impact.

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