New York J 1259: honoring the Birth by Queens Foundation for its leadership in advancing equitable, community-based maternal health care

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
J01259 Summary:

BILL NOJ01259 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORCOMRIE

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

&nbsp

Go to top J01259 Actions:

BILL NOJ01259 

&nbsp

07/11/2025REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/21/2026REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION

01/21/2026ADOPTED

Go to topJ01259 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topJ01259 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topJ01259 Text:

Senate Resolution No. 1259

BY: Senator COMRIE

 HONORING the Birth by Queens Foundation for its
 leadership in advancing equitable, community-based
 maternal health care

 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in promoting
public health, advancing health equity, and improving outcomes for
families and communities across the State of New York; and

 WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the Birth by Queens Foundation for its leadership in advancing
equitable, community-based maternal health care and for its efforts to
establish the first freestanding birth center in the Borough of Queens;
and

 WHEREAS, Birth centers are freestanding healthcare facilities that
provide safe, midwifery-led care supporting pregnancy, birth,
postpartum, newborn care, and family wellness; and

 WHEREAS, Birth centers are guided by the principles of safety,
prevention, patient- and family-centered care, appropriate medical
intervention, shared decision-making, cultural sensitivity, and
cost-effectiveness; and

 WHEREAS, Over 400 birth centers across the United States provide a
broad range of services including prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum
care, wellness exams, newborn exams, STI screening and treatment,
contraceptive care, and family planning services; and

 WHEREAS, Decades of research-including two large-scale national
birth center studies and the CMS-funded Strong Start for Mothers and
Newborns Initiative-have demonstrated that midwifery-led birth centers
significantly improve birth outcomes, reduce cesarean sections, lower
rates of preterm and low-birthweight births, increase breastfeeding
rates, and provide cost-effective care for childbearing families; and

 WHEREAS, Studies confirm that culturally centered, community-based
birth centers improve care experiences for families in rural, minority,
and underserved communities while helping to address persistent racial
and geographic disparities in perinatal care; and

 WHEREAS, New York is one of eight state chapters of the American
Association of Birth Centers, yet there are currently only eight birth
centers operating across the entire State of New York; and

 WHEREAS, Despite being home to 2.3 million residents, the Borough of
Queens-one of the most diverse communities in the nation-currently has
no freestanding birth center available to serve its families and address
local maternal health disparities; and

 WHEREAS, Birth By Queens Foundation is actively leading efforts to
establish the first freestanding birth center in Queens, representing a

vital reinvestment in the health, wellness, and future of Queens
families; and

 WHEREAS, Through its leadership and advocacy, Birth By Queens
Foundation is addressing longstanding maternal health disparities,
expanding access to midwifery-led and culturally centered care, and
working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Queens and
New York City; and

 WHEREAS, The birth center model represents a proven solution to the
maternal health crisis in the United States and is a vital component of
addressing inequities and improving maternal health outcomes in New York
State; and

 WHEREAS, Expanding access to birth center care in Queens and
throughout New York will help ensure that all individuals have access to
safe, respectful, person-centered, and community-rooted maternity care;
now, therefore, be it

 RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Birth By Queens Foundation for its commitment, leadership, and
advocacy in advancing equitable maternal health care and for its efforts
to establish the first freestanding birth center in the Borough of
Queens; and be it further

 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitabl