Joyce Introduces Bill to Reduce Stillbirths in the U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Young Kim (CA-40), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act to help reduce stillbirths throughout the country. Specifically, this legislation would enhance data collection, research, education, and awareness by creating the first comprehensive, federal-state partnership to reduce stillbirth rates in the United States. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are leading companion legislation in the Senate.
“Despite spending the most money on healthcare per capita in the world, the United States has failed to make significant improvements when it comes to understanding and preventing stillbirths,” said Congressman Joyce. “Congress must step up to prevent this avoidable loss of life. This legislation marks a long-overdue step forward in addressing stillbirths, advancing maternal and infant health, and ensuring the United States catches up to where it should be in prioritizing this critical issue. I am proud to again co-lead this bipartisan bill that will help save lives across the country.”
“As a mom and a grandma, I have experienced both the joys of pregnancy and pain of loss firsthand. Helping moms, moms-to-be, and their babies is personal to me,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “Far too many families in our nation experience the heartbreak of stillbirth, yet this enduring crisis remains overlooked and underfunded. The SHINE for Autumn Act will give us the tools to better understand, prevent, and respond to stillbirths, while ensuring moms, babies, and families receive the support they deserve. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort to bring hope and solutions to families across the country.”
“Too many families are suffering from the heartbreak of losing a baby to stillbirth, and it’s past time for Congress to step up and provide tools to save mothers and babies,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “The maternal and infant health crisis is devastating to all, and there is still so much we don’t know due to barriers in data collection. Estimates are that nearly one in four stillbirths could be prevented – that means lives saved and families spared enormous pain. That’s why I am proud to work with bipartisan colleagues, Reps. Kim, Kelly and Joyce and Sens. Booker and Daines in reintroducing the SHINE for Autumn Act. Together, we can reduce stillbirths, close gaps in care and improve outcomes for moms and babies across the nation.”
“Stillbirth is a deeply painful experience for mothers and families,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “I’m incredibly thankful for Debbie’s brave advocacy as she turns her pain into action so no other family will experience heartbreaking stillbirth. I’m committed to delivering the healthy pregnancy and life every mother and baby deserves.”
“Stillbirth is a tragedy faced by thousands of moms and families every year, both in Montana and throughout the nation,” said Senator Steve Daines. “I’m glad to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to help expand research, education, and data collection surrounding stillbirths, so we can save lives and provide hope for stillbirth families.”
“Nobody should have to experience the immense sorrow of losing a baby,” said Senator Cory Booker. “We must address the maternal and infant health crisis that continues to result in thousands of families grappling with the unthinkable every year in the United States. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is aimed at increasing data collection, research, education, and public awareness around stillbirths so we can save lives and put an end to this crisis.”
Background:
Stillbirth is a heartbreaking and overlooked crisis, shattering the lives of nearly 21,000 families in the United States every year. Each one of those numbers, nearly 1 in every 170 pregnancies, represents a life lost and a family that has been forever changed. Today, parents are left with unimaginable grief and without answers because our nation has failed to invest in the research and tools needed to prevent these tragedies. While other countries across the world continue to make strides in reducing the number of pregnancies that end in stillbirth, the United States’ progress has plateaued, leaving families without the support or knowledge they deserve. From 2000 to 2015, the U.S. had the second-lowest annual rate of reduction for stillbirth out of 49 high-resource nations. The top 5 nations had a reduction rate more than 10 times that of the United States, which was merely 0.4%.
The lack of comprehensive federal research, uniform data collection, and evidence-based guidelines means that grieving families often receive few answers, and health providers have limited tools to identify risk factors and prevent future losses. Stillbirth is not only the devastating loss of a child but also a serious maternal health issue, often signaling underlying risks and complications that can jeopardize a mother’s long-term well-being. By failing to modernize our understanding and response to stillbirth, the United States not only leaves families without closure but also misses critical opportunities to improve maternal and infant health outcomes nationwide. The SHINE for Autumn Act is about changing that; this bill shines a light on a silent crisis, delivering answers and hope, and ensuring that no parent feels abandoned in the face of such profound loss.
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