A resolution recognizing March 14, 2026, as "Black Midwives Day" and the longstanding and invaluable contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States.
S. Res. 646 is a Senate resolution that recognizes March 14, 2026, as “Black Midwives Day” and highlights the historical and ongoing contributions of Black midwives to maternal and infant health in the United States. The resolution frames Black midwifery as both a public health and reproductive justice issue, emphasizing the role of midwives in improving maternal outcomes, reducing unnecessary medical interventions, and expanding access to culturally congruent care, especially in communities affected by maternal care deserts and racial disparities.
The resolution also describes the broader maternal health crisis in the United States, particularly the disproportionately high maternal mortality and morbidity rates experienced by Black women. It cites structural racism, discrimination in facility-based birth settings, and the underrepresentation of Black midwives as key factors contributing to poor outcomes. The measure encourages greater investment in education, training, mentorship, and financial support for Black midwives and preceptors, as well as efforts to remove accreditation barriers and expand recognition of midwives across training pathways.
In addition to symbolic recognition, the resolution urges federal, state, and local governments to support autonomous midwifery practice, authorize or reauthorize Medicaid and TRICARE coverage for midwifery services, and decriminalize or destigmatize midwifery care in homes, birth centers, clinics, and other settings. It does not itself change statutory law or create enforceable rights, but it signals congressional support for policy changes affecting maternal health, midwifery regulation, and coverage of maternity care.
The general sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly supportive of Black midwives and of expanding access to midwifery as a strategy to improve maternal and infant health. The tone is advocacy-oriented and aligned with health equity, birth justice, and anti-racism frameworks. Because the bill was referred to committee and no votes or hearings are provided, there is no recorded legislative opposition in the available materials.
Notable points of contention are implied rather than directly debated in the record: the resolution calls for autonomous practice, decriminalization, and recognition of all midwifery training pathways, which can intersect with state licensing rules, accreditation standards, and scope-of-practice debates. The text also criticizes criminalization and overregulation of direct-entry midwives, suggesting that regulatory restrictions and professional licensing barriers are central issues for supporters of the measure.
This resolution has no direct effect on state or federal law because it is a nonbinding Senate resolution. Its practical impact is to express congressional support for Black midwives and to encourage federal, state, and local governments to adopt policies that expand access to midwifery care, diversify the perinatal workforce, and reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health. It specifically points toward changes in Medicaid and TRICARE coverage, midwifery licensing and scope-of-practice rules, accreditation recognition, and barriers affecting direct-entry and Black midwives.
The overall sentiment is strongly favorable and celebratory. The resolution is framed as a recognition of Black midwives’ historical importance and as a call to action on maternal health inequities, with emphasis on culturally competent care, reproductive justice, and health equity. No opposing votes or committee objections are included in the available record, and the measure appears to have been introduced as a supportive commemorative resolution rather than a controversial policy bill.
The main areas of potential contention are the resolution’s policy recommendations rather than the commemorative designation itself. Supporters are likely to favor its calls for autonomous practice, broader recognition of all midwifery pathways, Medicaid and TRICARE coverage, and decriminalization of midwifery in home and birth-center settings. Critics, if any, would likely focus on scope-of-practice concerns, licensing and accreditation standards, and whether autonomous midwifery practice should be expanded without tighter regulatory oversight. The resolution also implicitly challenges state restrictions that have historically limited direct-entry midwives, which may be a point of disagreement among medical, licensing, and public health stakeholders.