Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education for Autumn Act of 2021

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5487, the SHINE for Autumn Act of 2021, led by Representatives Herrera Beutler, Roybal- Allard, Mullin, and Castor.

Each year, about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite medical innovations, stillbirth rates remain relatively unchanged and affect women of different ages and backgrounds.

No family should have to go through such an unthinkable tragedy, and this is, unfortunately, far too common.

H.R. 5487 aims to prevent stillbirth through enhanced research, surveillance, and reporting. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to better support States in collecting more complete stillbirth data. It also establishes a National Institutes of Health fellowship program focused on stillbirth research and pathology.

This legislation will help provide much-needed outreach and education on stillbirths, giving healthcare providers additional tools to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies who deserve a fighting chance at life.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close.

This is an important bill. I can't imagine what Autumn's mother has gone through; what so many families have gone through with the stillbirth of their child. I encourage all my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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