Res 1724-2021

Whereas, According to a 2020 report from the Commonwealth Fund, there are roughly 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the United States, a number more than double that in most other high-income countries; and Whereas, The same Commonwealth Fund report also observes that maternal deaths have been increasing in the United States since 2000; and Whereas, While the extent of maternal morbidity among those who served in the U.S. military is not fully known, a January 2020 study published in the Journal of Women's Health indicates that these adverse maternal health outcomes may be more prevalent among women veterans; and Whereas, As noted in the Journal of Women's Health study, there has not yet been a proper evaluation of maternal morbidity and mortality among women veterans; and Whereas, On February 8, 2021, Senators Susan Collins and Tammy Duckworth introduced H.R. 958, also known as the "Protecting Moms Who Served Act," which would commission the first-ever comprehensive study on maternal morbidity and mortality among veterans; and Whereas, H.R. 958 would also invest $15 million in maternity care coordination programs at veteran care facilities, which would be used to improve community partnerships, identify potential risk factors for maternal health, and offer educational resources to expecting and new mothers; and Whereas, As of 2019, New York City is home to roughly 138,000 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau; and Whereas, Veterans in New York City are roughly twice as likely to have a disability as other residents of New York City; and Whereas, Given this large population of veterans in the City, as well as the outsized propensity of said veterans to have preexisting conditions, the study commissioned by H.R. 958 may provide deeper insight into health challenges faced by veteran mothers in New York City; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.R 958 (the "Protecting Moms Who Served Act"), to commission the first-ever study of maternal morbidity and mortality among women veterans. LS #17807 7/12/2021 TWN