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

Cindy Hyde-Smith

Republican · MS · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Jon Ossoff (D-GA)Original· 2026-10-15

Under authority of the order of the Senate of September 30, 2026, ordered referred to the Committee on The Judiciary.

2026-10-15

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English summary pending. Introduced on 2026-10-15. Check back soon — summaries are generated as bills progress through Congress.

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

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