Sponsors (4)
This bill authorizes five years of funding to sustain and expand maternal and infant health services—improving access and planning—at the cost of new federal spending and with the risk that actual annual appropriations could fall short of the authorization.
Pregnant people—especially low-income and underserved individuals—and infants will have sustained access to prenatal, postpartum, and infant health services because Healthy Start is authorized at $145 million per year for FY2026–FY2030, supporting programs that reduce maternal and infant health disparities.
State and local health programs and clinics gain more predictable multi-year authorization that helps planning and service delivery for maternal and infant health programs.
Beneficiaries (pregnant people and state/local programs) may still face funding uncertainty because an authorization does not guarantee annual appropriations; expected funds could be reduced or omitted in future budgets.
Taxpayers will be responsible for the authorized cost—$145 million per year ($725 million total over five years)—increasing federal spending unless offsets are identified.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes $145 million per year for FY2026–FY2030 for the Healthy Start Initiative by amending the Public Health Service Act.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez · Last progress May 8, 2025
Authorizes $145,000,000 per year for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the Healthy Start Initiative by amending 42 U.S.C. 254c–8(e)(1) and adjusting its subparagraph structure. Also adds a brief statutory citation (short title) but does not otherwise change program rules or create new requirements.