Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Maternal Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee designates April 11–17, 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week in Pennsylvania
Summary
House Resolution 181, sponsored by Representative Curry, was reported from the House Children and Youth Committee after a failed motion to re‑refer to the Health Committee; the committee adopted the resolution 16-10.
The House Children and Youth Committee voted to report House Resolution 181, designating the week of April 11–17, 2025, as Black Maternal Health Week in Pennsylvania. A motion to re‑refer the resolution to the House Health Committee failed 14-12; the committee then approved the resolution 16-10 and reported it from the committee.
Danielle, a committee staff member, summarized HR 181: the resolution “designates the week of April 11 through the seventeenth 2025 as Black Maternal Health Week in Pennsylvania to promote awareness of the maternal health crisis and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among black women.” She also reported the same supporting organizations listed for HR 149 (the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives) and stated there was “no known opposition.”
Sponsor Representative Summer L. Curry framed the resolution as a response to documented disparities. Curry told the committee that “Black women are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes in Pennsylvania, than other women,” and that “93 percent of these deaths are preventable,” remarks she used to underline the need for community‑driven policy and outreach. Curry also said the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus will host Black Maternal Health Week events in Pittsburgh April 14–16.
Representative Klunk again moved to re‑refer HR 181 to the House Health Committee, repeating the argument that health‑related measures should follow the Health Committee’s deliberative process; the motion to re‑refer failed 14-12. Representative Serrato moved adoption of HR 181 and Representative Nelson seconded. The committee adopted the resolution, 16-10, and reported it from the House Children and Youth Committee.
The transcript records organizational support as reported by staff and no recorded opposition during the committee session. The record does not attach funding, mandated action, or implementation requirements to the designation.
