As a concerned constituent, I am writing you today to urge you to cosponsor the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act (S.3972). Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced this critical piece of bipartisan legislation that would focus on preventing stillbirth through enhanced data collection, analysis, reporting, and research. Tragically, according to the CDC, 23,500 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. That is nearly 65 babies dying every day! According to the CDC, the annual number of stillbirths far exceeds the number of deaths among children aged 0-14 years from prematurity, SIDS, car accidents, drowning, guns, fire, poison, and flu COMBINED. Even more concerning is the global comparison of our progress in reducing stillbirth rates. In the last two decades, the U.S. stillbirth rate has remained frustratingly the same, putting our progress at 183rd out of 195 countries globally. Studies have shown a tremendous return on investment for reducing stillbirths. Efforts to improve stillbirth rates will show a reduction in maternal morbidity, mortality, and newborn complications. Furthermore, like other maternal health issues, there are also longstanding and persistent racial disparities that must be addressed with Black and Native American families experiencing stillbirths at two times the rate of their white counterparts. Despite these numbers, stillbirth remains one of the most underfunded and understudied public health issues today. And this is precisely why the SHINE for Autumn Act is so important. This vital piece of legislation would be the beginning of a longer-term solution to prevent and reduce stillbirths, in addition to improving maternal/infant health in the U.S. To put it simply, it’s a win/win! Please consider cosponsoring the SHINE for Autumn Act and helping us to bring this tragic maternal and family health crisis out of the shadows once and for all!

As a concerned constituent, I am writing you today to urge you to cosponsor the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act (S.3972). Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced this critical piece of bipartisan legislation that would focus on preventing stillbirth through enhanced data collection, analysis, reporting, and research. Tragically, according to the CDC, 23,500 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. That is nearly 65 babies dying every day! According to the CDC, the annual number of stillbirths far exceeds the number of deaths among children aged 0-14 years from prematurity, SIDS, car accidents, drowning, guns, fire, poison, and flu COMBINED. Even more concerning is the global comparison of our progress in reducing stillbirth rates. In the last two decades, the U.S. stillbirth rate has remained frustratingly the same, putting our progress at 183rd out of 195 countries globally. Studies have shown a tremendous return on investment for reducing stillbirths. Efforts to improve stillbirth rates will show a reduction in maternal morbidity, mortality, and newborn complications. Furthermore, like other maternal health issues, there are also longstanding and persistent racial disparities that must be addressed with Black and Native American families experiencing stillbirths at two times the rate of their white counterparts. Despite these numbers, stillbirth remains one of the most underfunded and understudied public health issues today. And this is precisely why the SHINE for Autumn Act is so important. This vital piece of legislation would be the beginning of a longer-term solution to prevent and reduce stillbirths, in addition to improving maternal/infant health in the U.S. To put it simply, it’s a win/win! Please consider cosponsoring the SHINE for Autumn Act and helping us to bring this tragic maternal and family health crisis out of the shadows once and for all!