Supporting the recognition of a "Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Maternal Health Equity", honoring the life of Kira Johnson, and commending 4Kira4Moms for its unwavering dedication to improving maternal health in Atlanta, throughout Georgia, and across the United States, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1163
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T08:18:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1163) supports recognizing April 11, 2026, as a "Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Maternal Health Equity". It honors the life of Kira Johnson, who died in 2016 from preventable complications after giving birth, and commends the organization 4Kira4Moms for its work to improve maternal health, especially in Atlanta, Georgia, and nationwide.
Key Provisions
- Recognition and commendation: The House resolves to:
- Support the special "Day of Remembrance" to reflect on Kira Johnson's legacy and commit to preventing maternal deaths.
- Praise 4Kira4Moms, founder Charles Johnson, and Executive Director Gabrielle Albert for advocacy, policy support, and efforts to reduce racial disparities in maternal health.
- Background context (via "Whereas" clauses):
- Details Kira Johnson's death and how it led to 4Kira4Moms' founding.
- Highlights the group's support for laws like the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, Kira Johnson Act (proposed), Dads Matter Act, and PREEMIE Reauthorization Act.
- Notes ongoing issues, such as higher pregnancy-related death rates for Black women.
- Describes 4Kira4Moms' activities: advocating for transparency, equity, bias training in maternity care, respectful treatment programs in hospitals, father engagement, and community partnerships.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it expresses the House's opinion and does not create new laws, enforce rules, or allocate funds.
Potential Impacts
- Citizens: Raises public awareness about maternal health disparities (e.g., higher risks for Black women) and preventable deaths, potentially encouraging community action and policy support.
- Government agencies: Signals congressional interest in maternal health, which could influence future funding or oversight by bodies like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine or Government Accountability Office (GAO).
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- 4Kira4Moms and leaders (Charles Johnson, Gabrielle Albert): Receives formal House praise, boosting visibility.
- Black mothers and underserved communities: Focus of equity efforts.
- Maternity care providers (hospitals, staff): Indirectly addressed via calls for bias training and respectful care programs.
- Families and advocates: Emphasizes father engagement and community organizations.
- Federal and state policymakers: Encourages support for related maternal health bills.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No enforceable effects; purely symbolic.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express views on health issues under general welfare clause.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan (or at least House) support for addressing racial disparities in healthcare, potentially aiding advocacy for bills like the Kira Johnson Act; highlights maternal mortality as a priority without controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-09: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the recognition of a "Day of Remembrance and Commitment to Maternal Health Equity", honoring the life of Kira Johnson, and commending 4Kira4Moms for its unwavering dedication to improving maternal health in Atlanta, throughout Georgia, and across the United States, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (4 pages)