Bill Text: NY K00249 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 249 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 11-17, 2019, as Black Maternal Health Week in the State of New York

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 38-19)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-08 - adopted [K00249 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00249-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 249

BY: M. of A. Joyner

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April  11-17, 2019, as Black Maternal Health Week in
        the State of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  weeks  that  are  set  aside  to increase awareness of serious
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 11-17,  2019,  as
Black Maternal Health Week in the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  The  inaugural  National Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW)
campaign, founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, is a  week
of awareness, activism, and community building; and

  WHEREAS,  Intended  to  increase  attention  in  the  State of Black
maternal health in the U.S., the root causes  of  poor  maternal  health
outcomes, and community-driven policy, program, and care solutions; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition,  it  serves as a national platform for Black
women-led entities and efforts on maternal health,  birth  justice,  and
reproductive justice, including African immigrant and Afro Latin groups;
and  to  enhance  community  organizing  on  Black  maternal  health via
community conversations, events, and outreach; and

  WHEREAS, The United States spends more on health care than any other
country, it has among the worst disparities in maternal health outcomes,
and is on the opposite track for  improving  maternal  health  with  its
mortality rates increasing between 1990 and 2013; and

  WHEREAS,   Maternal   Health   challenges   are  clearly  linked  to
disparities in women's  access  to  high  quality  health  care,  social
determinants  of  health  such  as  poverty and racism, and other needed
resources before, during, and after pregnancy  that  have  a  cumulative
impact on women's bodies; and

  WHEREAS,  These disparities and challenges particularly affect Black
women who are up to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related
causes, and more than twice as  likely  to  experience  severe  maternal
morbidity compared to white women; and

  WHEREAS,  Black  women  experienced  40.4  deaths  per  100,000 live
births, compared to 12.1 deaths per 100,000 lives for white women; and

  WHEREAS, These deaths have  devastating  effects  on  Black  women's
children  and  families,  and  the vast majority is entirely preventable
through assertive efforts to ensure Black women can access  information,
services,   and   supports  to  make  their  own  health  care  decision
particularly around pregnancy and childbearing; and

  WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater equitable access  to
prevention,  early identification, and effective treatment services that
are delivered in appropriate  care  setting  to  improve  Black  women's
chronic health conditions and maternal health; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 11-17,  2019,  as
Black Maternal Health Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the  State  of
New York.