A resolution designating September 2026 as "National Infant Mortality Awareness Month", raising awareness of infant mortality, and increasing efforts to reduce infant mortality.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 951 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 951

  Designating September 2026 as ``National Infant Mortality Awareness 
Month'', raising awareness of infant mortality, and increasing efforts 
                      to reduce infant mortality.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 15, 2026

 Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Ossoff), under authority of the 
   order of the Senate of September 30, 2026 submitted the following 
    resolution; which was ordered referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Designating September 2026 as ``National Infant Mortality Awareness 
Month'', raising awareness of infant mortality, and increasing efforts 
                      to reduce infant mortality.

Whereas the term ``infant mortality'' refers to the death of a baby before the 
        first birthday of the baby;
Whereas, each year, approximately 20,000 infants in the United States die in the 
        first year of life;
Whereas the United States ranks 32nd out of the 38 countries in the Organisation 
        for Economic Co-operation and Development (referred to in this preamble 
        as ``OECD'') for infant mortality rate, with 5.5 deaths per 1,000 live 
        births;
Whereas high rates of infant mortality are especially prevalent in minority and 
        underserved communities, including communities experiencing high rates 
        of poverty and unemployment and those with limited access to health care 
        providers;
Whereas more than 35 percent of counties are considered maternity care deserts, 
        where there is no access to birthing hospitals, birth centers offering 
        obstetric care, or obstetric providers, affecting more than 2,300,000 
        women of reproductive age and impacting 150,000 births in 2022;
Whereas approximately half of rural communities lack a birthing facility or 
        obstetrician;
Whereas the leading causes of infant mortality are--

    (1) birth defects;

    (2) low birth weight;

    (3) sudden infant death syndrome;

    (4) unintentional injuries;

    (5) maternal complications;

    (6) bacterial sepsis of newborn; and

    (7) cord and placental complications;

Whereas infant mortality can be substantially reduced through--

    (1) community-based services, such as outreach, home visitation, care 
coordination, health education, and interconceptional care;

    (2) early prenatal care; and

    (3) paternal involvement;

Whereas support for community-based programs to reduce infant mortality may 
        result in lower spending on medical interventions, special education, 
        and other social services required by infants and children born with a 
        low birth weight;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services has implemented the Newborn 
        Supply Kit program;
Whereas newborn screening is important to detecting potentially fatal or 
        disabling conditions as early as possible, often before the infant 
        displays any signs or symptoms of a disease or condition, and early 
        detection allows treatment to begin immediately, which may lead to 
        eliminate or reduce the effects of the condition;
Whereas, if left untreated, these conditions can have serious effects, such as 
        lifelong nervous system damage, intellectual, developmental, and 
        physical disabilities, and even death;
Whereas untreated maternal mental health conditions during pregnancy have been 
        linked to adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth 
        weight babies, which can impact infant mortality;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Safe Motherhood 
        Portfolio, maternal mortality review committees, and perinatal quality 
        collaboratives provide information that is important to addressing 
        preterm birth rates and conditions that put babies at risk;
Whereas the Maternal and Child Health Bureau Healthy Start program has supported 
        communities facing high rates of infant mortality and maternal illness 
        to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy;
Whereas Congress continues to support adequate staffing and resources to ensure 
        infant mortality programs are administered in a timely and effective 
        manner and that funds are distributed without unnecessary delay;
Whereas coordination programs related to preterm birth, infant mortality, and 
        other adverse birth outcomes can contribute to improved maternal and 
        infant health;
Whereas partnerships among educational institutions, States, and other 
        stakeholders play a role in maternal and infant health initiatives; and
Whereas public awareness and education campaigns on infant mortality are held 
        during the month of September each year: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 2026 as ``National Infant 
        Mortality Awareness Month'';
            (2) supports efforts--
                    (A) to educate people in the United States about 
                infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
                infant mortality;
                    (B) to reduce infant deaths, low birth weight, 
                preterm births, and disparities in perinatal outcomes; 
                and
                    (C) to increase access to and encourage early 
                prenatal care;
            (3) recognizes the critical importance of including efforts 
        to reduce infant mortality and the factors that contribute to 
        infant mortality as part of prevention and wellness strategies; 
        and
            (4) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
        National Infant Mortality Awareness Month with appropriate 
        programs and activities.
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