Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SR398 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 112 3376
2	2	Senate Resolution 398
3	3	By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Orrock of the 36th, Mallow of the 2nd,
4	4	Esteves of the 35th and others
5	5	A RESOLUTION
6	6	Recognizing March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day; and for other purposes.
7	7	1
8	8	WHEREAS, Black Midwives have made invaluable contributions to maternal and infant2
9	9	health in Georgia, providing critical care and advocating for better health outcomes for Black3
10	10	birthing people and their families; and4
11	11	WHEREAS, Black Midwives Day is recognized nationally on March 14 as a day to5
12	12	acknowledge the historical legacy, present-day contributions, and future impact of Black6
13	13	Midwives; and7
14	14	WHEREAS, Georgia Black Midwives, including UmmSalaamah Abdullah-Zaimah, Corrinna8
15	15	Edwards, Lynette Pye, Marsha Ford, Angelina Ruffin, Nar Sanders, Jasmine Bradfield,9
16	16	Chasity Efunranti Osunjuade Millen, Bethany Erby, Chief Shaman Tomecas, and Robin10
17	17	Gause, as well as Black apprentice and student midwives Ayana Garrick, Ayla Nicole11
18	18	Chayil, Sainteté Martinez, Naticia Taylor, and Tahaira James, exemplify the importance of12
19	19	midwifery in addressing disparities in maternal healthcare by bridging Georgia's rich Black13
20	20	Midwifery legacy with the present-day care and services they provide in out-of-hospital14
21	21	birthing communities; and15
22	22	S. R. 398
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24	24	WHEREAS, the Accreditation Commission of Community Midwives Education and
25	25	16
26	26	Certification is the first Black-led midwifery accreditation and credentialing body dedicated17
27	27	to endorsing, recognizing, and building educational pathways to certify experienced18
28	28	community midwives with a focus on excellence in midwifery as a public health service and19
29	29	ensuring the health, welfare, and safety of the communities they serve; and20
30	30	WHEREAS, the Alliance of Certified Community Midwives collaborates with existing21
31	31	midwifery agencies, credentialing bodies, and state departments of public health to increase22
32	32	access to midwives and healthcare in urban and rural birth deserts as well as takes action to23
33	33	improve outcomes and establish Georgia as a nationwide model for the Community Midwife24
34	34	Model of Care; and25
35	35	WHEREAS, Bellies to Babies Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit organization founded by26
36	36	Black Midwives and the original Black-led and founded Community Doula, Community27
37	37	Birth Assistant, and Community Midwife training and credentialing program and the creation28
38	38	of the Certified Community Midwife, Certified Community Doula, and the Certified29
39	39	Community Birth Assistant, endorses community doulas and community student midwives30
40	40	from Doula of the Divine Agency and Ubuntu Wellness Academy Doulas for their dedication31
41	41	and commitment to continuing their training and experience while serving Georgia's most32
42	42	vulnerable population, considering systemic racism has greatly contributed to the high Black33
43	43	maternal mortality rates; and34
44	44	WHEREAS, Black student midwives are the future of midwifery and have the lived35
45	45	experience today of the student midwife with barriers to accessing quality instructors, quality36
46	46	training programs and apprenticeships, and pathways to legally practice midwifery upon37
47	47	completion of their training; and38
48	48	S. R. 398
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50	50	WHEREAS, Black student midwives have faced hardship, bias, bullying, and a lack of
51	51	39
52	52	support in credentialing through a pathway similar to their ancestors or the midwives who40
53	53	have mentored them, who also have faced hardship due to the eradication of the Black41
54	54	Midwife with restrictive laws and gatekeeping in the industry; and42
55	55	WHEREAS, there were 43,000 midwives across the Southeast serving all families, which43
56	56	was reduced to just a few per state by the 1980s due to changes in the departments of public44
57	57	health; and45
58	58	WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are increasing in numbers and proving46
59	59	to have better outcomes than hospitals, similar to the Black Midwives who were serving in47
60	60	out-of-hospital settings in the past, who had better outcomes than physicians; and48
61	61	WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving their communities need reimbursement, access to49
62	62	resources, and access to certifying and recognition for their unique training pathway so that50
63	63	more Georgia families can access midwifery care and choose a midwife from their own51
64	64	community who understands their culture, religion, languages spoken, and lives in the same52
65	65	zip code; and53
66	66	WHEREAS, Black Midwives serving out-of-hospital are needed in higher numbers to reduce54
67	67	Black maternal mortality as a proven model of care; and55
68	68	WHEREAS, this day is intended to increase attention for the state of Black maternal health56
69	69	in the United States, the root causes of poor maternal health outcomes, and for57
70	70	community-driven policies, programs, and care solutions; and58
71	71	S. R. 398
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73	73	WHEREAS, Georgia is experiencing a maternity care desert crisis, in which women of
74	74	59
75	75	childbearing age live in maternity care deserts where they do not have access to hospitals or60
76	76	birth centers offering maternity care or obstetric providers; and61
77	77	WHEREAS, maternity care deserts lead to higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality62
78	78	as most complications occur in the postpartum period when birthing people are far away63
79	79	from their providers; and64
80	80	WHEREAS, incorporating midwives fully into the Georgia maternity care system would65
81	81	reduce maternal health disparities and help to address the maternity care desert crisis; and66
82	82	WHEREAS, despite the medicalization of childbirth in the United States, maternal mortality67
83	83	rates in the United States are among the highest in high-income countries, increasing rapidly68
84	84	and disproportionately higher among Black birthing people in Georgia and across the69
85	85	country.70
86	86	NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body71
87	87	recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day in honor of the longstanding and72
88	88	invaluable contributions of Black Midwives to maternal and infant health in Georgia.73
89	89	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed74
90	90	to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the75
91	91	press.76
92	92	S. R. 398
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