Safe Passages Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6765 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6765 To prioritize and fund life-affirming maternal and child health initiatives globally by equipping local health providers and community health workers to reduce the leading causes of maternal and child mortality, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 16, 2025 Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself and Ms. Salazar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prioritize and fund life-affirming maternal and child health initiatives globally by equipping local health providers and community health workers to reduce the leading causes of maternal and child mortality, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Passages Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Around the world, over 287,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications--most of which are preventable. (2) In sub-Saharan Africa, the maternal mortality rate in 2023 was 442 per 100,000 live births, compared to 14 per 100,000 in developed countries. (3) Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for approximately 70 percent of all global maternal deaths. (4) These deaths are nearly all caused by treatable conditions including postpartum hemorrhage, severe preeclampsia, infection, and obstructed labor, reflecting a lack of access to skilled birth attendants with the training, tools, and infrastructure needed to provide life-affirming obstetrical care. (5) Short of death and in the absence of skilled pregnancy care and birth attendance, women may also suffer severe