Sponsors
The Resolution raises awareness of Black midwifery and could improve culturally competent care and access in underserved areas, but it is symbolic (no new funding) and may prompt safety, regulatory, and cost debates if followed by policy changes.
Pregnant Black women and other birthing people: increased awareness and support for Black midwives could encourage more culturally competent care and wider adoption of midwife-led models, potentially improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Residents of maternity care deserts (rural communities and parents/families): the Resolution's focus may spur attention and investment in local midwifery services and birth centers, improving access to maternity care.
Midwives and health systems: formal recognition could reduce stigma and overregulation of midwifery, making it easier to practice and modestly increasing provider supply.
Taxpayers and the public: the Resolution is symbolic and does not allocate funding, so raised expectations may not translate into immediate services or investments.
Pregnant women and infants: calls to reduce state regulation of some midwifery practices could pose safety risks if changes occur without clear standards, oversight, and integration with clinical systems.
Medicaid beneficiaries and taxpayers: emphasizing culturally matched providers highlights coverage gaps in public payers and could trigger debates about expanding benefits and increasing program costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates March 14, 2026 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness of midwifery’s role in improving Black maternal health and encourage culturally competent, community-based care.
Introduced March 17, 2026 by Cory Anthony Booker · Last progress March 17, 2026
Designates March 14, 2026 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness about midwifery’s role in improving maternal health for Black women by addressing access gaps, maternity care deserts, and racial disparities. The resolution highlights data on maternity care deserts and higher maternal mortality for Black women and urges expansion of culturally competent, community-based midwifery, reduction of criminalization/overregulation of midwives, and investment in equitable reproductive health resources. The designation is largely symbolic: it calls attention to problems, cites international recommendations, and urges actions by policymakers and communities but does not itself create new funding or regulatory mandates.