Summary: Senate Resolution SRES 128 – Black Midwives Day

Overview

SRES 128 is a Senate resolution introduced on March 14, 2025, by Senator Cory Booker. The resolution recognizes March 14, 2025, as “Black Midwives Day” and acknowledges the longstanding contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States. It urges federal, state, and local governments to take actions aimed at reducing racial disparities in maternal health and advancing Black midwifery.

Purpose and Intent

• Officially designate March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day.
• Highlight the historic and ongoing role of Black midwives in maternal and infant health.
• Promote health equity by encouraging policy measures to diversify the perinatal workforce and expand culturally congruent maternal healthcare.

Key Provisions (as introduced)

1. Recognize March 14, 2025, as Black Midwives Day.
2. Urge federal, state, and local governments to address racial disparities in maternal health by supporting diversification of the perinatal workforce and access to culturally congruent care.
3. Commit to collaborating with stakeholders to develop and enact policy solutions that advance health equity, address systemic racism, and support Black midwifery.
4. Call for:
   • Increased funding for education, training, and access to Black preceptors;
   • Removal of barriers and restrictions to Black preceptors;
   • Financial pathways to support students and preceptors;
   • Mentorship programs to promote and sustain Black midwifery;
   • Removal of accreditation barriers by recognizing midwives across all training pathways.
5. Encourage authorization of autonomous practice for all midwives to the full extent of their training.
6. Promote funding or reauthorization for TRICARE and Medicaid coverage of maternity care provided by midwives of all training pathways.
7. Support steps to destigmatize and decriminalize midwifery pathways in the setting of the pregnant person’s chosen birth setting (home, birth centers, clinics, health units).
8. Recognize and honor the contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health.

Affected Parties and Impacts

• Black midwives and midwifery training programs: potential expansion of educational opportunities, preceptor access, and accreditation pathways.
• Pregnant people and families: potential for greater access to racially concordant, culturally informed care.
• Federal, state, and local governments: encouraged policy, funding, and regulatory actions to advance the outlined goals.
• Health systems and payors (e.g., TRICARE, Medicaid): potential changes in coverage for midwifery care across training pathways.
• Accrediting bodies and professional associations: incentive to recognize diverse training pathways and remove barriers.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Introduced in the Senate on March 14, 2025.
• Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).
• Status: Introduced and under committee consideration; as a resolution, it expresses intent rather than establishing new law or funding.

Sponsor

• Primary Sponsor: Cory Booker (Senator)

Notes on Legal Effect

• This is a non-binding Senate resolution. While it does not by itself create law or mandatory funding, it articulates congressional support, signals policy priorities, and could influence future legislation, budgeting decisions, and administrative actions related to maternal health equity and Black midwifery.