Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1781-1782)
This Senate resolution designates March 14, 2025, as "Black Midwives Day" and recognizes the historical and current contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health.
It encourages federal, state, and local actions to address racial disparities in maternal health by expanding midwifery workforce diversity, removing barriers to midwifery practice and accreditation, promoting Medicaid and TRICARE coverage, funding education and mentorship, and destigmatizing and decriminalizing midwifery.
S.Res. is symbolic and nonbinding; adoption by the Senate is likely, but it does not create law—policy changes recommended would require separate binding legislation.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions primarily as a commemorative Senate resolution that effectively raises awareness and catalogs policy issues and recommended actions. Its factual findings and calls to action are clear and well‑organized for a nonbinding measure.
Scope-of-practice: autonomous midwife practice versus safety oversight
Scope-of-practice: autonomous midwife practice versus safety oversight
Overall supportive; views the resolution as a meaningful recognition and a useful policy signal to address racial maternal health disparities.
Sees calls for workforce diversification, coverage expansion, and decriminalization as aligned with reproductive justice and health equity goals.
May want stronger, binding legislation and targeted funding included.
Generally favorable toward symbolic recognition and pragmatic steps to improve maternal outcomes, while seeking more clarity.
Supports expanding access to midwifery alongside safety standards and oversight.
Wants cost estimates, measurable goals, and coordination with obstetric providers to manage risks.
Mixed to skeptical: accepts symbolic recognition but expresses strong reservations about policy recommendations.
Concerns focus on public safety, scope-of-practice expansion for non-clinical midwives, federal encouragement to override state regulation, and potential Medicaid/TRICARE cost increases.
Prefers state control and rigorous credentialing.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
S.Res. is symbolic and nonbinding; adoption by the Senate is likely, but it does not create law—policy changes recommended would require separate binding legislation.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Scope-of-practice: autonomous midwife practice versus safety oversight
S.Res. is symbolic and nonbinding; adoption by the Senate is likely, but it does not create law—policy changes recommended would require se…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions primarily as a commemorative Senate resolution that effectively raises awareness and catalogs policy issues and recommended actions. Its factual findings an…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.