Yesterday, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus announced its endorsement of the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, which seeks to address the stagnant rate of stillbirths in the United States.

The bipartisan legislation was co-led for Problem Solvers Caucus endorsement by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), a cosponsor of the bill, and Rep. Young Kim (CA-50), who introduced the legislation. The legislation has 70 cosponsors, including 26 members of the Problem Solvers Caucus.

In the United States, one in 170 pregnancies results in a stillborn child each year, resulting in more than 21,000 stillbirths annually. Despite advances in medicine, the stillbirth rate has not improved in thirty years. The SHINE for Autumn Act aims to combat this issue by allocating grant funding to collect data and improve educational materials and guidelines. The legislation would also create a Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program focused on improving education, research, and data collection on stillbirth.

“Our country’s high stillbirth rate is a serious crisis that’s led to pain and grief for thousands of Washington families. While other nations have made progress reducing these tragedies, the rate of stillbirth in the United States has remained the same over the past few decades,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “More than one in four of these deaths could be preventable – and the bipartisan SHINE for Autumn Act would make reduction through research and education a priority. The endorsement of the Problem Solvers Caucus is an important step forward for this critical legislation, and I’ll continue working with my bipartisan colleagues to get this done.”

“Stillbirth affects 1 in 170 pregnancies, with over 21,000 babies born still every year in the U.S. As a mother and grandmother, I have experienced and witnessed firsthand the hardships of pregnancy and know how difficult it is for mothers and families to lose a baby. Through stillbirth research and education, we can raise awareness of this public health crisis and save lives,” said Rep. Kim, co-chair of the Maternity Care Caucus. “I’m thrilled the SHINE for Autumn Act is gaining momentum with the endorsement of the Problem Solvers Caucus and support of over 60 bipartisan cosponsors. I am proud to lead this commonsense bill and will keep fighting to get this across the finish line. I’ll always be an unwavering voice for women, moms, and families.”  

The full text of the legislation can be found here.