Adams, Hinson, Merkley, Cassidy’s Stillbirth Prevention Act Overwhelmingly Passes U.S. House

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A signature bill co-led by Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) to address stillbirth in pregnancies passed the U.S. House today with overwhelming bipartisan support, passing 408-3.

The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act clarifies that current funding through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant may be used for stillbirth prevention activities. The rate of stillbirth is high in the United States and even higher for Black women. Hundreds of advocates came to the Hill for National Stillbirth Prevention Day on September 19th last year to promote passage of this bill. A companion bill co-led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) passed out of the Senate in September 2023. The bill will have to be voted on once more in the Senate to consolidate minor differences.

"For too long, stillbirth has been a silent crisis. Over 21,000 babies are stillborn every year. According to a recent study, nearly one in four stillbirths are potentially preventable, and the United States is trailing other countries in making progress," said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. "We owe it to our mothers to reduce or remove the unnecessary risks that have made pregnancy unsafe. All available data suggests we can make progress, and the Stillbirth Prevention Act will address this injustice so more mothers and babies experience a healthy birth and make it home with their families."

"Stillbirth is a preventable tragedy that has devastated too many families, and the stillbirth rate in the U.S. is unacceptably high," said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) This bipartisan pro-life legislation will help improve maternal care options to save moms and babies and end the heartbreak of stillbirth."

"Stillbirth upends the lives of parents and families in communities all across the United States," said Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). "Our Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act will help address this public health crisis, which affects Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native communities at disproportionately higher rates. Nearly 1 in 4 stillbirths are potentially preventable, and I applaud the House for passing this bill to ensure robust federal resources go towards stillbirth prevention activities and research."

"The U.S. medical community should be able to use federal resources to advance evidence-based stillbirth prevention efforts," said Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). "By cutting red tape, our bill will make that possible. I'll be working alongside my House and Senate colleagues to get this legislation to the president's desk."

"Every life is precious. We can save the lives of babies and mothers by improving access to stillbirth prevention," said Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). "This is a pro-life bill. The Senate should follow suit."

"We are grateful to U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-NC) for her leadership in championing the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act supporting evidence-based programs including tracking fetal movement and funding for community-based programs to prevent stillbirth," said Tina Sherman, National Director, MomsRising. "Stillbirth remains one of our most underfunded and understudied public health issues and the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is a critical step in stillbirth prevention and protecting the health of pregnant women and infants."

"The deafening silence of a baby born still echoes through hospitals across our country 65 times every single day," said Emily Price, CEO of Healthy Birth Day, Inc. "Families have grieved in silence for decades - and this legislation says we can end preventable stillbirths. Words cannot express our gratitude to Congresswomen Ashley Hinson and Alma Adams for their leadership on helping make stillbirth a maternal health tragedy of the past."

"The passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is a significant milestone, as it signals a turning point where stillbirth is no longer overlooked," said Tomeka Isaac, a North Carolina resident whose son Jace should be celebrating his sixth birthday on May 15. "Families like mine affected by stillbirth can now find solace in knowing their voices are heard."

"March of Dimes is pleased to see the House pass the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act (S.2231/H.R.4581), which will allow states to use resources under the Title V Maternal and Infant Health Block Grant for stillbirth prevention programs," said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes Sr. Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs. "This is the first victory during this Congress for families affected by stillbirth and serves to invigorate champions to continue to pursue policy changes to help improve health outcomes for all moms and babies. We thank Representatives Alma Adams and Ashley Hinson for their leadership on this legislation. March of Dimes is committed to ensuring that all moms have the opportunity to have a healthy pregnancy and carry their babies to term. We look forward to seeing this legislation signed by President Biden soon."

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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.

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