Bill > HR181

This resolution recognizes the week of April 11 through 17, 2025, as "Black Maternal Health Week" in Pennsylvania, highlighting the critical maternal health crisis facing Black women. The resolution is grounded in alarming statistical evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which shows that Black women are 2.6 times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related causes and experience life-threatening pregnancy complications at twice the rate of White women. The document emphasizes that maternal mortality rates in the United States are among the highest in developed countries, with rates increasing from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 32.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021. In Pennsylvania specifically, the pregnancy-associated mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 148 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, which is double the rate for non-Hispanic White women. The resolution points out that over 93% of these pregnancy-related deaths are considered preventable, and factors such as inadequate prenatal care, prolonged medical assistance coverage, and systemic disparities contribute to these stark statistics. By designating this week, the resolution aims to draw attention to the urgent need to address and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women.

Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=R&bn=181