Daines Supports Montana Moms With Bipartisan Bill to Expand Research, Reduce Stillbirths

Press Release

Senator Daines cosponsored a bipartisan bill to support Montana moms and families by increasing data collection and reporting on stillbirth and stillbirth risk factors.

"Stillbirth is a tragedy faced by hundreds of Montana families and tens of thousands of Americans every year. We need to be doing everything we can to support the innocent unborn and Montana mothers --I'm glad to help expand research and awareness for the risk factors of stillbirth," Daines said.

In the U.S., stillbirths are defined as the death of a baby in utero, any time from the 20th week of pregnancy onward. According to the CDC, 23,500 babies are born still each year. The Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act would authorize grants to states to support data collection and reporting on stillbirth and stillbirth risk factors. Specifically, HHS, in coordination with health care providers, would develop guidelines and educational materials for state departments of health and statistics on stillbirth data collection, data sharing, and educational materials on stillbirth. The bill would also establish the Perinatal Pathology Fellowship Program at the NIH to fund research fellowships on stillbirth.

Senator Daines joined Senators Rubio (R-Fla.), Booker (D-N.J.), Collins (R-Maine), Menendez (D-N.J.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Marshall (R-Kan.), Casey (D-Pa.), Murphy (D-Conn.), and Murkowski (R-Alaska).

The House version of this bill, sponsored by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-3), passed the House in December 2021.

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