HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2026, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

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LC003477
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING JANUARY 23, 2026, TO BE "MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY"
IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Representatives Carson, Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Messier, Furtado, Diaz, Donovan, Caldwell, and Cortvriend

Date Introduced:
January 22, 2026

Referred To:
House read and passed
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WHEREAS, January 23rd is recognized as Maternal Health Awareness Day, and was
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established to educate citizens about the critical importance of maternal health and promising
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maternal health initiatives. This year’s theme is "Holding Ground on Maternal Health"; and
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WHEREAS, Maternal health refers to women’s health and well-being during pregnancy,
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childbirth, and postpartum (after childbirth) is integral to the health of our State, communities,
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and families; and
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WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more
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than 80 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable, and severe maternal
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morbidity regarding pregnancy-related complications lead to major short or long-term health
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consequences; and
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WHEREAS, The rate of severe maternal morbidity among Rhode Island women
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delivering in hospitals is lower than the national rate; however, the United States has the highest
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rate among all wealthy nations; and
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WHEREAS, Black women have the highest maternal mortality rate of any racial or
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ethnic group and although that number has decreased in recent years, there still exists a growing
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concern due in great measure to health care becoming unobtainable for these mothers and others
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in both rural and urban areas due to ongoing financial, staffing, and policy changes which have
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caused an "Access in Crisis" across the country; and
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WHEREAS, All pregnant individuals should have access to comprehensive and timely

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prenatal services across the healthcare continuum, and reducing prenatal health inequities through
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policy and systems change can help improve opportunities for every Rhode Islander; and
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WHEREAS, To combat the maternal mortality rate, the State of Rhode Island has
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engaged in ongoing efforts to systematically collect and comprehensively review maternal deaths
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through the Pregnancy & Post-Partum Death Review Committee; and
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WHEREAS, In 2023, one third of Rhode Island’s births were delivered by cesarean
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delivery which is now the most common surgery performed in the United States, and which is
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often preventable; and
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WHEREAS, At least five percent of the babies born in Rhode Island are prenatally
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exposed to substances like alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, stimulants, and opioids; and
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WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is collaborating with community organizations,
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hospital and health systems and clinical collaborations including the Perinatal Neonatal Quality
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Collaborative (PNQC) of Rhode Island, the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) of
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Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Prematurity Task Force to reduce maternal mortality and
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severe morbidity through collaboration and implementation of evidence-based initiatives; and
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WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is committed to protecting the health and well-
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being of pregnant people by continuing public awareness and understanding of health risks and
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factors that contribute to maternal death, to improving public and professional awareness of the
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issues related to maternal health and mortality, and promoting the various efforts to reduce
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maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
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proclaims January 23, 2026, to be "Maternal Health Awareness Day" in the State of Rhode
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Island; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Dina Himelfarb, President, Rhode Island
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Medical Society.
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