S. 1599

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · May 5, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Luján · Committee: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

S. 1599

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Midwifery schools and programs

(a) In general
- Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 760 of such Act () the following: 42 U.S.C. 294k
  - (a) In general
    - The Secretary may award grants to institutions of higher education (as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) for the following:
      - Direct support of students in an accredited midwifery school or program.
      - Establishment or expansion of an accredited midwifery school or program.
      - Securing, preparing, or providing support for increasing the number of, qualified preceptors for training the students of an accredited midwifery school or program.
  - (b) Special considerations
    - In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to any institution of higher education that—
      - agrees to prioritize students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332; and
      - demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic minority representation in midwifery education.
  - (c) Restriction
    - The Secretary shall not provide any assistance under this section to be used with respect to a midwifery school or program within a school of nursing (as defined in section 801).
  - (d) Authorization of appropriations
    - (1) In general
      - There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
    - (2) Allocation
      - Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use—
        
        50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
        
        25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
        
        25 percent for subsection (a)(3).
(b) Definitions
- Section 799B(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended— 42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(A)
- Section 799B(1)(E) of the Public Health Service Act () is amended by inserting before . 42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(E)

SEC. 3. Nurse-midwives

Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 811 of such Act () the following: 42 U.S.C. 296j
- (a) In general
  - The Secretary may award grants to schools of nursing for the following:
    - Direct support of students in an accredited nurse-midwifery school or program.
    - Establishment or expansion of an accredited nurse-midwifery school or program.
    - Securing, preparing, or providing support for increasing the numbers of, preceptors at clinical training sites to precept students training to become certified nurse-midwives.
- (b) Special considerations
  - In awarding grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to any school of nursing that—
    - agrees to prioritize students who choose to pursue an advanced education degree in nurse-midwifery to practice in a health professional shortage area designated under section 332; and
    - demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic minority representation in nurse-midwifery education.
- (c) Authorization of appropriations
  - (1) In general
    - To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
  - (2) Allocation
    - Of the amounts made available to carry out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use—
      - 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
      - 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
      - 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).

S. 1599

Table of contents

SEC. 1. Short title

SEC. 2. Midwifery schools and programs

SEC. 3. Nurse-midwives