89R23164 BK-D
By: Rose H.R. No. 829
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week is being observed from
April 11-17, 2025, to raise awareness of racial disparities in
maternal health outcomes and to rally support for efforts to reduce
maternal mortality and morbidity in Black communities; and
WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Black women in the United States are two to three times
more likely than White women to die from pregnancy-related
complications; due in part to this disparity, the nation has the
highest maternal mortality rate among all affluent countries; and
WHEREAS, In Texas, Black women also suffer from higher
maternal death rates than women of other races; among Black women,
more than 134 fatalities occur for every 10,000 delivery
hospitalizations, compared to the overall state average of
approximately 85 fatalities for every 10,000 delivery
hospitalizations; the causes of these disproportionate figures
include socioeconomic factors, obstacles to health care access, and
historical health inequities; and
WHEREAS, The CDC has found that over 80 percent of
pregnancy-related deaths are preventable; compounding the issue,
more than 46 percent of all Texas counties are considered maternity
care deserts, exceeding the national average of 33 percent; as a
consequence, many Texas women are left without access to nearby
hospitals, birthing centers, or obstetric providers, and midwives,
doulas, perinatal health workers, and community-based
organizations are further hindered by structural hurdles to
providing holistic maternity care; and
WHEREAS, Black Maternal Health Week was created by the Black
Mamas Matter Alliance to make Black maternal health a more urgent
priority, and the initiative is returning for its eighth year in
2025 with the theme "Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal
Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy"; and
WHEREAS, Addressing maternal health disparities requires
ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for everyone,
and Black Maternal Health Week serves as an opportune time to
reaffirm our commitment to building a future where all mothers,
families, and communities thrive; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 11-17, 2025, as Black Maternal
Health Week and call on all Texans to support the goal of raising
the standard of care for mothers in our state and nation.