We are thrilled to let you know the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act has passed in the United States Senate by unanimous consent. Senate File 2231 passed the Senate via hotline Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. A huge THANK YOU to Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) for leading this bill in the Senate and helping to ensure this bipartisan stillbirth prevention legislation moves onto the House of Representatives for consideration.
We would also like to thank all of the cosponsors of the bill in the Senate, including:
This tremendous step would not have been possible without the courageous advocacy of the 50 stillbirth prevention advocates from 21 states who traveled to Washington, D.C. with us for National Stillbirth Prevention Day in September, and the 25 advocates who joined us in May. Collectively, this group of advocates attended 160+ meetings to discuss stillbirth prevention legislation with members of Congress and their staff. With their help and voices of thousands of other advocates like you, the stillbirth crisis is finally getting the attention it deserves!
From our Founders, Ambassadors, fellow stillbirth prevention organizations, and the entire team at Healthy Birth Day, Inc., we would like to thank each and every person who has taken action to advocate for stillbirth prevention legislation in the 118th Congress. This tremendous progress would not be possible without YOU.
The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act is still under consideration in the House of Representatives. The companion legislation to the Senate bill is H.R.4581, and it was introduced in the House by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) and Rep. Alma Adams (D-North Carolina) on July 12, 2023. The bill currently has 27 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
We have created a petition to help share your story with members of Congress. This petition will help legislators better understand why their support for both the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act (H.R. 5012/S. 2647) and the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act (H.R. 4581/S. 2231) is crucial.
Please take a few minutes to complete the petition and share why stillbirth prevention matters to you!
Thank you for helping us reach this milestone in the Senate and for your continued support to ensure we can push BOTH pieces of stillbirth prevention legislation through the finish line in Congress! Together we are creating systemic change for families in the U.S.
