Texas House Bill HCR28

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Designating April 11 through 17 as Black Maternal Health Week for a 10-year period beginning in 2021.

Impact

The resolution seeks to bring attention to the pressing issue of maternal mortality, which remains notably high in the United States compared to other developed countries. Specifically, the resolution emphasizes the disproportionate impact on Black mothers, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. By designating this week, the resolution encourages investment in maternal health care programming and improved hospital protocols, which are essential to closing the racial gap in maternal health outcomes and ensuring better care for Black women in Texas.

Summary

HCR28 is a concurrent resolution designating April 11 through 17 as Black Maternal Health Week in Texas for a decade beginning in 2021. This resolution highlights the urgent need to address the significant disparities and inequities in maternal health experienced by Black women in the state. The observance aims to amplify the voices of Black mothers and emphasize the values of the reproductive justice and birth justice movements, thereby promoting a holistic and equitable approach to maternal health care within the Texas community.

Contention

While HCR28 is primarily a symbolic gesture, it serves as a rallying point for ongoing discussions about maternal health equity and access to care. It calls for urgent action from health professionals and advocates to prioritize the well-being of Black mothers, aiming to eliminate preventable maternal mortality. The resolution also places emphasis on the need for reforms in both state and federal funding for maternal health services, which has been a contentious issue given the ongoing disparities present in health care access and quality.