Chavez-DeRemer joins legislative effort to reduce U.S. stillbirth rate

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) – Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) is backing bipartisan legislation that seeks to prevent stillbirths in the U.S.

The Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act would enhance data collection, research, education, and awareness by creating the first comprehensive, federal-state partnership to reduce stillbirth rates in the U.S.

“Stillbirths continue causing far too much heartbreak for women and families. As a mom, it’s frustrating to see that more progress hasn’t been made towards preventing them,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “The SHINE for Autumn Act will take long overdue steps to help reduce stillbirths and address associated risks. I’m honored to support this bipartisan legislation as we fight to lower the stillbirth rate.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stillbirth affects one in 170 pregnancies, with over 21,000 babies born still each year – meaning 57 babies are dying every day. In the U.S., the annual number of stillbirths far exceeds the number of deaths among children aged 0-14 years from accidents, preterm birth, SIDS, drownings, fire, and flu combined. 

The SHINE for Autumn Act aims to bridge gaps in stillbirth data, research, and education by allowing for:

• Grants to states to support data collection, assessment, and reporting on stillbirth and stillbirth risk factors;
• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with health care providers, to develop guidelines and educational materials for state departments of health and statistics on stillbirth data collection, data sharing, and educational materials on stillbirth;
• The incorporation of the Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research fellowships on stillbirth, including research and training on fetal autopsies and improved education, research, and data collection; and, 
• A report on the effectiveness of the Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program after five years of enactmen

The SHINE for Autumn Act is supported by many organizations including March for Dimes, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Group B Strep International, MomsRising, March for Moms, Just Actions, The Iris Fund, Three Little Birds Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Healthy Birth Day, Inc/Count the Kicks, the Shane Foundation, 1st Breath, Aaliyah in Action, and PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.