South OC Times

The House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee has advanced the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act (H.R. 5012), a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing stillbirth rates in the United States. The bill, led by U.S. Representatives Young Kim, Kathy Castor, Dave Joyce, and Robin Kelly, seeks to prevent stillbirth through enhanced data collection, research, education, and awareness.

Rep. Young Kim, who co-chairs the Maternity Care Caucus, shared her personal motivation behind the bill, stating, "Supporting moms, women, and babies is personal to me." She expressed her pride in leading this bipartisan effort to bring hope to mothers and families affected by stillbirth.

Rep. Kathy Castor emphasized the need to address the maternal and infant health crisis, noting that nearly one out of every four stillbirths is preventable. She highlighted the importance of improving outcomes for mothers and babies, particularly for Black women who are more at risk of experiencing stillbirth compared to White women.

Rep. Dave Joyce, acknowledging Ohio's high stillbirth rates, stressed the necessity of continued research funding to prevent such devastating losses. He commended the bipartisan support for the SHINE for Autumn Act in the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.

Rep. Robin Kelly, also a co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus, underscored the significance of mitigating the risk of stillbirth and providing support to affected families. She expressed her commitment to ending the maternal health crisis and ensuring that every mother has a healthy pregnancy and life with her baby.

The SHINE for Autumn Act includes provisions such as grants to support data collection on stillbirth, development of guidelines and educational materials, funding for research fellowships on stillbirth, and a report on the effectiveness of the program after five years.

The bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Cory Booker, further demonstrating bipartisan efforts to address the issue of stillbirth in the United States.