Sponsors (40)
The bill expands and improves culturally competent maternal and infant care for underserved communities through federal grants, but does so with open-ended funding, administrative limits and competitive requirements that may strain small local providers and leave some areas without services.
Women and infants in minority, low‑income, and medically underserved communities gain expanded access to prenatal care, infant postnatal care, and 12‑month postpartum services through new grant funding aimed at these populations.
People in diverse communities receive culturally and linguistically appropriate care because grantees must provide services tailored to language and cultural needs, improving care quality and patient experience.
Locally led and community‑based providers are prioritized for funding, strengthening trusted local organizations and improving retention of community care capacity.
Small and resource‑limited community providers may be disadvantaged because the 10% cap on administrative expenses plus coordination and application requirements limit their ability to handle reporting, compliance, startup costs, and competitive applications.
Some underserved areas and community providers will still go without support because the program is structured as a competitive grant, leaving gaps in services for certain low‑income or rural populations.
Taxpayers face uncertain and potentially rising costs because funding is authorized at “such sums as may be necessary” for FY2026–FY2030, creating budgetary uncertainty and possible pressure on federal budgets.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a competitive grant program to expand culturally appropriate prenatal, infant postnatal, and 12‑month postpartum services in underserved communities.
Creates a new competitive grant program to fund public and nonprofit health care providers that serve minority, low-income, and medically underserved communities so they can expand and improve maternal health care — including prenatal care, infant postnatal care, and a 12‑month postpartum period. Grants prioritize providers rooted in the community and require culturally and linguistically appropriate services, coordination with other federal maternal health activities, and a 10% cap on administrative expenses. The bill authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026–2030.
Official title: To authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, to award grants to expand and improve maternal health care services, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by Maxine Waters · Last progress March 6, 2025