Bill · S.Res. 128· Senate(119-SRES-128)
A resolution recognizing March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day" and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.
- Introduced
- 3/14/2025
- Last activity
- 3/14/2025 — Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1781-1782)
- Sponsored by
- Cory Booker
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
A Senate resolution is the Senate speaking for itself: stating a position, honouring someone, or setting its own rules. Adopting it is the whole process. Once the Senate agrees to it, it is officially the Senate's word; it is not a law, so the House and the President have no part in it.
What this bill would do
This resolution recognizes March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day." It honors the historical and ongoing contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States. The bill highlights the crisis of maternity care deserts and the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black birthing people. It seeks to address health disparities by promoting the integration of midwives into the maternity care system. Additionally, the resolution encourages government action to diversify the perinatal workforce and remove barriers to midwifery.
Yes· 3 of 12
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+9
The resolution specifically focuses on increasing Black midwifery and addressing maternal health disparities for Black birthing people.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+8
The resolution specifically targets racial disparities in maternal health outcomes through support for Black midwifery.
Would women be better off under this?+7
The bill promotes better maternal health outcomes and autonomy for birthing people.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Improved Health Outcomes: The text states that midwife-led care can result in reduced medical interventions, lower cesarean rates, decreased preterm births, and improved health outcomes for mothers and infants (Resolution Text).
-
Addressing Maternity Care Deserts: By encouraging the integration of midwives into the maternity care system, the resolution aims to address the crisis where 2,200,000 women live in areas without hospital or birth center maternity care (Resolution Text).
-
Increased Access to Culturally Competent Care: The resolution highlights that increasing the number of Black midwives can provide culturally competent care that builds trust and enhances maternal satisfaction (Resolution Text).
-
Financial Support for Training: The resolution calls for increased funding for education, training, and access to Black preceptors, as well as providing financial pathways to support students and preceptors (Resolution Text, Section 4).
-
Expanded Healthcare Coverage: The bill promotes the authorization or reauthorization of funding for TRICARE and Medicaid to cover maternity care provided by midwives of all training pathways (Resolution Text, Section 6).
-
Greater Autonomy for Providers: The resolution encourages governments to authorize the autonomous practice of midwives to the full extent of their training (Resolution Text, Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Impact of Overregulation: The text notes that the criminalization and overregulation of midwifery disproportionately impacts Black midwives and birthing families (Resolution Text).
-
Legal and Practice Barriers: The text mentions that some States have criminalized and suppressed direct-entry midwives, which can exacerbate maternal health disparities (Resolution Text).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+9Good For Women+7Good For Children+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Students+5Good For Veterans+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicaid Funding+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+8
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Veterans Benefits+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3
- 3/14/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1781-1782)
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HRES-1120: Supporting the recognition of March 14, 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.
- 119-SRES-646: A resolution recognizing March 14, 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.