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WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh urges both the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to pass pending legislation regarding the safeguarding and improvement of maternal health care and standards in Pennsylvania and in the United States; and,
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WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country and significant disparities in maternal mortality and morbidities among age groups, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Pennsylvania Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Pennsylvania ranks 26th in the country for maternal mortality rates; and,
WHEREAS, the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Rate (PAMR) is 82 per 100,000 live births for all pregnant women and birthing people, the rate for Black women and birthing people is 163 per 100,000 live births, making them twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related complication in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and,
WHEREAS, in May 2023, Senator Cory Booker and U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams reintroduced the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, comprised of 13 individual bills aimed at safeguarding and improving maternal health outcomes in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, in October 2023, Pennsylvania State Representative La’Tasha Mayes (D-Allegheny), with State Representatives Morgan Cephas and Gina Curry, launched the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus; and,
WHEREAS, Governor Shapiro signed Act 5, introduced as HB 1362 in the House by Rep. Morgan Cephas and ultimately introduced by Senator Judy Schwank and passed as SB 262 in the Senate, into law to mandate reporting on severe maternal morbidity through the Department of Health; and,
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus seeks to address the disturbing trends of Black maternal mortality and morbidity and pass the Pennsylvania Momnibus legislative package, modeled after the federal Momnibus Act; and,
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh’s Gender Equity Commission found that Black, Asian, Multiracial, and Latinx mothers in Pittsburgh experience higher rates of maternal mortality, maternal morbidities, and disparities in maternal health care compared to their white counterparts; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is dedicated to being a livable city for all, which includes access and equity to quality maternal health care; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and United States of America share the goal of protecting the mental and physical health of pregnant and postpartum individuals;
NOW THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to pass any pending legislation regarding the safeguarding and improvement of maternal health care and standards in Pennsylvania and in the United States; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Will of Council will be distributed to the Allegheny County delegations of the Pennsylvania State General Assembly and the United States Congress.