Sponsors (40)
The bill expands federally funded, culturally competent maternal and infant care in underserved communities and strengthens local providers, but depends on competitive grants and administrative limits that may leave service gaps, strain small providers, and create budget uncertainty.
Women, infants, and parents in minority, low‑income, and medically underserved communities gain expanded access to comprehensive prenatal, infant/postnatal, and 12‑month postpartum care through federal grant funding.
Patients in diverse communities receive more culturally and linguistically appropriate care, improving quality, patient experience, and potentially care uptake.
Locally led and community‑based providers are prioritized for funding, increasing support for trusted local organizations and helping retain community providers.
Because grants are awarded competitively, some community providers and certain underserved areas may not receive funding, leaving gaps in maternal and infant services.
Administrative limits (10% cap on admin) and coordination/application requirements could strain small or resource‑limited providers, making it harder for them to apply, comply, and sustain services.
The program is authorized at “such sums as may be necessary,” creating uncertain federal spending obligations and potential budgetary pressure for taxpayers and appropriators over FY2026–FY2030.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program to fund public and nonprofit providers to expand culturally appropriate prenatal, infant postnatal, and maternal postpartum care in underserved communities.
Introduced March 6, 2025 by Maxine Waters · Last progress March 6, 2025
Creates a competitive federal grant program that funds public and nonprofit health care providers to expand and improve maternal health services in minority, low‑income, and medically underserved communities. Grants support prenatal, infant postnatal, and maternal postpartum care (each defined to include the 12 months after birth), require culturally and linguistically appropriate services, limit administrative costs, and prioritize providers rooted in the communities they serve. Funding is authorized for FY2026–FY2030 as "such sums as may be necessary."