Promoting Access to Reproductive and Maternal Health Services
Adopted at the 91st Annual Meeting in 2023
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth Fund reported that areas with more restrictive reproductive healthcare laws have fewer maternity care providers; more maternity care "deserts"; higher rates of maternal mortality and infant death; and
WHEREAS, researchers have found that a total abortion ban would lead to a 24 percent increase in the number of maternal deaths, and for Black women, the maternal death rate would rise by 39 percent; and
WHEREAS, restricting access to reproductive healthcare threatens the health and economic stability of workers and businesses; and
WHEREAS, researchers have found that reduced labor force participation and earnings as a result of abortion restrictions already cost the nation's economy $105 billion annually; and
WHEREAS, access to abortion has a significant positive impact on women's wages and education attainment, with impacts most strongly felt by Black women; and
WHEREAS, every dollar invested in access to family planning services, yields $120 in health and economic benefits; and
WHEREAS, reproductive rights ranked as one of the top concerns in the 2022 November elections; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has policy - voted on and passed by mayors - urging Congress and states to protect and improve women's access to safe and comprehensive reproductive healthcare, including abortions; and
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution in support of reproductive rights at the 90th Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada in June 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the United States Conference of Mayors recognizes the need to promote access to reproductive and maternal health services and commends those cities working to do this; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the United States Conference of Mayors calls for the creation of a Task Force on Maternal Health and Reproductive Healthcare to protect and strengthen access to reproductive healthcare.