Proclaiming May 2023 to be Maternal Health Month in Wisconsin.
Impact
Through this resolution, the Wisconsin Legislature aims to increase awareness about the pressing concerns surrounding maternal health. It draws attention to alarming statistics, including the suicide rate of mothers within a year of childbirth and the disparities in maternal mortality rates, particularly among non-Hispanic Black mothers. By declaring May as a month dedicated to maternal health, the resolution encourages statewide discussions and initiatives to improve outcomes for mothers and their children, ultimately aiming to foster a supportive environment that values motherhood and maternal well-being.
Summary
SJR46 is a resolution introduced in the Wisconsin Legislature proclaiming May 2023 as Maternal Health Month. This resolution underscores the importance of mothers in the family unit and their critical role in society, highlighting both their contributions and the need for greater recognition and support for their health. It aims to bring attention to various issues surrounding maternal health, especially as they relate to the welfare of both mothers and their children, noting that maternal health is directly linked to child health both prenatally and postpartum.
Contention
Despite its positive intentions, SJR46 reflects broader societal issues regarding maternal health that remain contentious. There have been ongoing discussions about the racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, with the resolution acknowledging that pregnancy-related mortality rates for non-Hispanic Black mothers are markedly higher than for their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Addressing these disparities is critical to the success of initiatives aimed at improving maternal health, and the resolution thus serves as a call to action for collective responsibility in responding to these urgent issues in Wisconsin.
Reaffirming Wisconsin’s commitment to the strengthening and deepening of the sister ties between the State of Wisconsin and Taiwan; reaffirming Wisconsin’s support for the Taiwan Relations Act; supporting Taiwan’s signing of a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the United States; and continuing support for increasing Taiwan’s international profile.