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Designates March 14, 2025 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness of Black maternal and infant health disparities and the role of midwifery and culturally concordant care in improving outcomes. It lists findings about higher rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity among Black birthing people, notes shortages of maternity care in many areas, and urges Federal, State, and local governments to support training, remove barriers, expand access to midwives and community-based perinatal providers, and consider coverage and legal reforms to increase access to culturally appropriate care. The resolution is a nonbinding recognition and set of recommendations: it affirms the value of Black midwives, encourages actions such as supporting autonomous midwifery practice, expanding TRICARE and Medicaid coverage for midwife-provided maternity care, creating financial and mentorship supports, and promoting destigmatization and decriminalization of midwifery practices. It does not appropriate funding or change law by itself, but it signals congressional priorities and encourages policymakers and agencies to act.
Recognizes March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day.
States that the Black Midwives Day campaign was founded and led by the National Black Midwives Alliance in 2023.
States that March 14, 2025 is intended to increase attention to Black maternal health, root causes of poor outcomes, and community-driven solutions.
Reports the United States is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis where 2,200,000 women of childbearing age live in maternity care deserts with no hospital or birth center offering maternity care and no obstetric providers.
States that maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality because many complications occur postpartum when people are far from providers.
Who is affected and how:
Black birthing people and Black women: Primary intended beneficiaries. The resolution raises awareness of disparities they face and urges policies to expand access to culturally concordant midwifery and community-based perinatal support, which may improve maternal and infant outcomes over time if policies are implemented.
Midwives, doulas, and community-based perinatal providers (especially Black midwives): Directly highlighted as critical care providers. The resolution encourages training, mentorship, financial support, and removal of legal and regulatory barriers—measures that, if enacted by agencies or legislatures, could increase workforce size, autonomy, and reimbursement.
Health care systems and payers (Medicaid, TRICARE, private plans): The resolution urges expanded coverage for midwife-provided maternity care under TRICARE and Medicaid. That is an encouragement, not a mandate; coverages would require separate regulatory or legislative action. Payers may face implementation decisions if follow-up actions occur.
State licensing and regulatory bodies: Encouraged to consider authorization of autonomous midwifery practice and decriminalization efforts. Impact would depend on state-level law changes; the resolution itself does not change state law.
Federal, State, and local policymakers and agencies: The resolution signals congressional interest and may prompt agency reviews, grant programs, or legislative proposals to support training, remove barriers, and expand access to culturally appropriate care.
Net effect and limits:
Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1781-1782)
Introduced March 14, 2025 by Cory Anthony Booker · Last progress March 14, 2025
Expand sections to see detailed analysis
Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1781-1782)
Introduced in Senate