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PR26-0141 • 2025

Maternal Mortality Review Committee Roberta Bell Confirmation Resolution of 2025

Maternal Mortality Review Committee Roberta Bell Confirmation Resolution of 2025

Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2025-03-21
Official status
Deemed Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about Ms. Bell’s term length or the requirement for sending copies of the resolution.

Confirmation for Roberta Bell to Join Maternal Mortality Review Committee

This resolution confirms the Mayor's nomination of Roberta Bell as a member of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

What This Bill Does

  • Confirms the Mayor's nomination of Roberta Bell for the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Roberta Bell, who is being confirmed for her role on the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

Terms To Know

Maternal Mortality Review Committee
A committee that reviews and analyzes cases where women die during or after pregnancy to improve healthcare practices.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify how Ms. Bell's appointment will impact maternal mortality rates or healthcare practices.
  • It is unclear what specific actions the Maternal Mortality Review Committee will take with Roberta Bell as a member.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on PR26-0141 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  2. 2025-03-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  3. 2025-03-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0141 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Maternal Mortality Review Committee Roberta Bell Confirmation Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
MUR
IEL BOWSER
MAYOR
March 14, 2025
The
Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
J
ohn A. Wilson Building
135
0 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mende lson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 4 of the Maternal Mortality Review
C
ommittee Establishment Act of 2018, effective June 5, 2018 (D.C. Law 22-111; D.C. Official Code
§ 7-671.03), I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
Ms.
Roberta Bell
Farragut Street, NW
Washington, D.C 20011
(Ward 4)
for appointment as a person with experience in obstetrics and gynecology from a District of Columbia
hospital or birthing center member of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, filling a vacant seat
f
ormerly held by Kristin Atkins, for an unexpired term to end January 10, 2028.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-m entioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel B owser
Mayor
~ ~cl~
3 at the request of the Mayor
4
5
6 A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
7
8
9
10 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11
12
13
14
15 To confirm the appointment of Roberta Bell to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee.
16
17 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
18 resolution may be cited as the "Maternal Mortality Review Committee Roberta Bell
19 Confirmation Resolution of 2025".
20 Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
21
22 Roberta Bell
23 Farragut Street, NW
24 Washington, D.C 20011
25 (Ward 4)
26
27 as a person with experience in obstetrics and gynecology from a District of Columbia hospital or
28 birthing center member of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, established by section 3 of
29 the Maternal Mortality Review Committee Establishment Act of 2018, effective June 5, 2018
30 (D.C. Law 22-111; D.C. Official Code§ 7-671.02), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Kristin
31 Atkins, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end January 10, 2028.
32 Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
33 upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
34 Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Roberta FrailsBell,MSN
Licensure:
Districtof Columbia
Education:
HowardUniversityCollegeofNursing-Washington,DC
MSN-1985 Nursing
Administration
MedicalCollegeofGeorgiaSchoolofNursing-Augusta,GeorgiaBSN-1977
PaineCollege-Augusta,Georgia
BS-1974Biology
Professional Experience:
July,2016-February,2021(RetiredfromHowardUniversityHospital)
ClinicalNurseIl(DepartmentofMaternalChildHealthNursing)

June,2015-July,2016
NurseEducator(MCH-DepartmentofNursingEducation)
November,2008-January,2015
NurseManager(DepartmentofMaternalChildHealth
Nursing,HowardUniversityHospital)
March,2004—November,2008
DirectorofNursing(DepartmentofMaternalChildHealth
Nursing,HowardUniversityHospital)
1987-March,2004NurseClinician(DepartmentofMaternalChildHealthNursing,
HowardUniversityHospital)
June,1977-1987GraduateNurse-ClinicalNurseIl(DepartmentofMaternal
ChildHealthNursing,HowardUniversityHospital)
2003-2005-Perinatal Consultant- Association of Women’s Health Obstetric/Neonatal
Nursing
Sp
ring Semester, 1995 Clinical Instructor (Maternity –Howard University
College of Nursing)
2012, Presenter Presenter-District of Columbia Breast Feeding Collation – Mother
Baby Summit- “Journey to Baby Friendly Designation”
Spring, 2013 Presenter-Howard University College of Nursing “Care of the
Preterm Infant”
Academic and Professional Activities:
Black Nurses Association of Greater Washington Area (2021-)
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Gamma Beta Chapter) Howard
University- Inducted -1985
Charter Member- Washington Metropolitan Association of Neonatal Nurses (WMANN)
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing
Community Services:
Barristers’ Spouses of the District of Columbia, Inc. (President)
National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, Inc. (Financial Secretary)
National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, Inc. Foundation (Secretary, Chair- Health
Initiative)
District of Columbia, Paine College National Alumni Association (Secretary)
Paine College National Alumni Association
Member, Israel Metropolitan CME Church-Washington,DC
Member, Women’s Missionary Society
Co-chair, Health Ministry- Israel Metropolitan CME Church
President, Stewardess Board #3, Israel Metropolitan CME Church
Chair-Elnora Hamb Health Initiative
New York-Washington Region Women’s
Women’s Missionary Society
Awards:
Sojourner Truth Award- Howard University Hospital (1996)
O
utstanding Alumni Award- Thomas Walter Josey High School (1990)
Outstanding Alumni Award- Paine College
Trailblazer Award, D. C. Chapter, Paine College National Alumni Association
National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, Inc., Service Award
District of Columbia Nurses Association, Practice Award
Department of Maternal Child Health Nursing, Leadership Award-2018

Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004

Roberta Bell

Ms. Roberta Bell, who is currently retired, has held both professional
and academic leadership roles within Howard University Hospital. Most
recently, she served as a Clinical Nurse for the Department of Maternal
Child Health Nursing .
Ms. Bell plays an active role in her community as a member of numerous
local and national agencies, including the National Association of Bench
and Bar Spouses, Inc. Ms. Bell has also been highly regarded by her
community, winning several awards from the Department of Maternal
Health Nursing and the District of Columbia Nurses Association.
A Ward 4 resident, Ms. Bell earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology
from Paine College, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing Administration from the Medical College
of Georgia, and her Master of Nursing focusing on Nursing Administration from Howard
University.

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Suite 300 • Washington, D.C. 20004 • Office (202) 724-7681
To: Kimberly A. Bassett, Steve Walker
From: Betsy Cavendish
Date: October 24, 2024
Subject: Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing Roberta Bell as a member of
the Maternal Mortality Review Committee
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Order and found
it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not hesitate
to call Michael Porcello, Deputy General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at 202-727-
0872, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish