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Statement

Enactment of Stillbirth Prevention Act a Badly Needed Step Forward for U.S. Maternal Health

July 15, 2024
Maternal Health, Reproductive Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Tina Sherman, National Director, MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on President Biden signing the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act into law Friday:

“On Friday, when President Biden signed the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act into law, the country took a meaningful, badly needed step to improve maternal and infant health.

“There are some 58 stillbirths in our country each day, 21,000 per year. As many as one in four of these devastating occurrences may be preventable. Women who experience stillbirths are more likely to die after delivery and face depression than women whose babies are born alive. And as is the case with so many health issues, there are deeply troubling racial and ethnic disparities, with Black and Native American families experiencing stillbirths at about twice the rate of White families.

“The legislation President Biden signed on Friday will support research and evidence-based programs to prevent stillbirths. We hope and expect it will mean fewer families experience the terrible grief a stillbirth brings. Now, we need to take the next step to improve maternal health by enacting the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.