Senator Daines Introduces Bill To Tackle Stillbirths In Montana

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines has introduced bipartisan legislation he says will help reduce stillbirths and improve resources for families and health care providers in Montana and across the country.

The bill, called the “SHINE for Autumn Act,” would expand federal support for data collection, research and education related to stillbirths. Daines said that the measure is designed to strengthen how state health agencies, including those in Montana, track and prevent such cases.

“Stillbirth is a tragedy faced by thousands of moms and families every year, both in Montana and throughout the nation,” Daines said in a statement. “I’m glad to join my colleagues on this bipartisan bill to help expand research, education, and data collection surrounding stillbirths, so we can save lives and provide hope for stillbirth families.”

The legislation calls for federal grants to help states improve consistency in reporting stillbirth data and risk factors. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to work with health care providers to develop best practices and educational materials that state agencies could use to better support families. Privacy protections for sensitive health data are also included in the bill.

Supporters say the proposal would provide Montana with additional tools to understand and address stillbirths, particularly in rural and underserved areas where access to maternal health care can be limited.

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The bill is named after Autumn Joy, who was stillborn in 2011. Her mother, Debbie Haine Vijayvergiya, has since become an advocate for improving awareness and prevention strategies nationwide.