HRES 231119th CongressIn Committee

Recognizing the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.

Introduced: Mar 18, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This House Resolution (H. Res. 231) recognizes and honors the longstanding contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States. It designates March 14, 2025 as Black Midwives Day and outlines a series of policy guidance and aspirational actions aimed at improving maternal health outcomes and reducing racial disparities. The resolution emphasizes addressing maternity care deserts, expanding access to culturally congruent care, and integrating midwifery more fully into the maternity care system. While it highlights potential policy directions (such as workforce diversification, education funding, expanded midwifery practice, and coverage), as a resolution it expresses the sense of the House and does not itself create new law or mandatory funding. Key themes in the resolution include combating racial disparities in maternal health, acknowledging the role of structural racism, promoting autonomous practice for midwives, ensuring coverage of midwifery care under federal programs, destigmatizing midwifery pathways, and recognizing the historical and ongoing contributions of Black midwives.

Key Points

1Designates March 14, 2025 as Black Midwives Day to raise awareness, education, and community-building around Black midwifery and maternal health.
2Encourages federal, state, and local governments to address racial disparities in maternal health by supporting workforce diversification and access to culturally congruent perinatal care.
3Calls for collaboration with stakeholders to develop and enact policy solutions that promote health equity, address systemic racism, and advance Black midwifery.
4Seeks increased funding for education and training, improved access to Black preceptors, removal of barriers to preceptors, student and mentor support, and recognition of midwives across all training pathways for accreditation purposes.
5Urges authorization of autonomous practice for all midwives to the full extent of their training.
6Promotes funding or reauthorization for TRICARE and Medicaid to cover maternity care provided by midwives from all training pathways.
7Encourages actions to destigmatize and decriminalize midwifery pathways in the settings where pregnant people choose to give birth (home, birth centers, clinics, hospitals).
8Reaffirms the recognition of the invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Black birthing people and communities, and Black midwives (increased access to culturally congruent care and expanded practice authority).Secondary group/area affected:- Federal and state governments, Medicaid and TRICARE programs, training and accreditation bodies, healthcare facilities, and perinatal care providers (including midwives, obstetricians, doulas, and community health workers).Additional impacts:- Potential movement toward reducing maternal morbidity and mortality disparities, especially among Black women and birthing people.- Alignment with international human rights and reproductive justice concerns about access to respectful, culturally sensitive maternal health care.- Possible policy and regulatory changes to support autonomous midwifery practice and broaden funding for midwifery education and pathways.- Increased public awareness and advocacy around Black midwifery, maternity care deserts, and the importance of community-based, holistic perinatal care.

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