S.Res.32 - Designating January 23, 2025, as Maternal Health Awareness Day. (119th Congress)
Summary
Senate Resolution 32 designates January 23, 2025, as "Maternal Health Awareness Day." The resolution aims to raise awareness about maternal mortality and morbidity, address disparities in maternal health outcomes, and promote respectful maternity care practices. It acknowledges the concerning statistics surrounding maternal health in the United States, including high mortality rates and significant racial and socioeconomic disparities.
Expected Effects
The resolution's immediate effect is largely symbolic, bringing attention to maternal health issues. It could lead to increased public awareness and potentially encourage further legislative or policy actions at the federal, state, and local levels. This could influence resource allocation and healthcare practices related to maternal care.
Potential Benefits
- Increased awareness of maternal health issues among the public and healthcare providers.
- Potential for improved data collection and analysis related to maternal mortality and morbidity.
- Encouragement of initiatives to address disparities in maternal health outcomes.
- Promotion of respectful and equitable maternity care practices.
- Support for investments in maternal health research and programs.
Potential Disadvantages
- The resolution itself does not allocate funding or mandate specific actions, limiting its direct impact.
- Symbolic gestures may not translate into tangible improvements in maternal health outcomes.
- Potential for the resolution to be perceived as insufficient without accompanying policy changes.
- Risk of overlooking other critical healthcare needs due to a singular focus on maternal health.
- Limited immediate impact on systemic issues contributing to maternal health disparities.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution's preamble, which aims to "promote the general Welfare." While the Constitution does not explicitly address healthcare, Congress has historically used its spending power under Article I, Section 8 to legislate in areas related to public health. This resolution, being a non-binding expression of support, does not infringe upon any specific constitutional provision.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).