WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing July 21^st as Bump Day. She is joined in this effort by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA). Bump Day is a global advocacy day for maternal health, and Rep. Houlahan’s resolution not only commemorates this day but also reaffirms the United States’ leadership to end preventable maternal deaths in the United States and across the globe.

“Supporting mothers means supporting families,” said Houlahan. “By recognizing Bump Day, we are, in a bipartisan way, sending a clear message to mothers and families across the world – that the United States is reaffirming its commitment to mothers and their children across our country and planet. Disparity in maternal health care is unacceptable and puts societies, particularly families, at risk. Our bipartisan commitment is not just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. Study after study has demonstrated the link between empowered women and a peaceful society. My colleagues and I have crossed party lines in support of this resolution because we understand just how important and impactful it can be.”

“I am proud to support calls to improve maternal care of expecting mothers,” said Congressman McCaul. “It is critical the United States works to lower maternal mortality rates and better support healthy pregnancies. Our health care system should improve services for all mothers, regardless of where they reside in the U.S.”

“I am very pleased to be joining my colleagues, Representatives Houlahan, McCaul and Herrera Beutler, to introduce this Bump Day Resolution, reaffirming the need for U.S. leadership to eliminate preventable maternal mortality in the United States and globally,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard, who serves as Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care. “It is completely unacceptable that America continues to rank far behind almost all other developed countries in birth outcomes for both mothers and babies, despite spending significantly more per capita on childbirth than any other industrialized nation. As Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus, Congresswoman Herrera Beutler and I have been working to ensure that safe and effective maternity care for all women and babies becomes a national priority.”

“As part of my continued effort to see more healthy pregnancies and healthy new moms in the United States, I’m pleased to join my colleagues in introducing this Bump Day Resolution to raise awareness about how we can reverse the crisis of preventable maternal deaths,” said Rep. Herrera Beutler. “As co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus along with Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, we’ve made it our mission to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in the United States, and I’m pleased to join her and so many others in support of the Bump Day resolution.”

The resolution has been endorsed by the What to Expect Project.

“Every mom — no matter where she lives, no matter the color of her skin, or her ability to pay — deserves the maternal healthcare she needs to deliver a healthy pregnancy, safe birth and healthy future to herself and her baby,” said Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting and founder of the What to Expect Project. “Yet around the world, more than 800 women die of pregnancy-related complications every day.  In the U.S., where we have the highest maternal mortality rate in the developed world, Black and American Indian/Alaska Native moms face a 3 times greater risk of dying from a pregnancy-related complication, and moms living in maternity care deserts, both rural and urban, also face disproportionately higher risk. More than 2/3 of all maternal deaths are preventable, as are most long-term health consequences for both mother and baby. That’s heartbreaking, but it’s also unacceptable. And it’s time to stop accepting it. The health of our moms and babies isn’t a partisan issue — it’s a human issue. That’s why the What to Expect Project and I are so excited and proud to work together with Republicans and Democrats on both chambers in support of the #BumpDay Congressional Resolution — dedicated to raising awareness about and inspiring action to address the urgent need for better, more equitable, more respectful and responsive care for every mom, everywhere. No exceptions, no disparities. We’re grateful Representative Chrissy Houlahan for leading the introduction of the #BumpDay congressional resolution and to Representatives Michael McCaul, Jaime Herrera Beutler and Lucille Roybal-Allard for their resolute support of maternal health on #BumpDay, July 21st and every day. Together, we can make sure that every mom gets the respectful, responsive, equitable quality care she and her baby need and deserve.”

Full text of the bipartisan resolution can be found here.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee.