Sponsors (213)
The bill channels substantial federal investment into expanding maternal supports, workforce development, data collection, and targeted community programs to reduce maternal morbidity and disparities — but does so with significant new spending, added administrative and privacy burdens, and uneven reach that will require strong coordination and funding to realize benefits equitably.
Pregnant and postpartum people: Expands the maternal risk window (explicit 1-year postpartum) and broadens causes counted (including mental health, substance use, suicide, overdose), improving who qualifies for services and making surveillance and prevention efforts more comprehensive.
Low-income postpartum people and families: Increases supports by funding community grants that address social determinants (housing, food, transportation), extends WIC benefits to 24 months postpartum, and funds local service capacity-building to reach high-need areas.
People from underserved and marginalized groups: Funds workforce development, scholarships, trainings, and recruitment to diversify maternity, mental health, and nutrition professionals and promote culturally and linguistically congruent, trauma‑informed, and anti‑racism care.
U.S. taxpayers and federal budget: The bill authorizes substantial new and ongoing federal spending across many programs, increasing budgetary pressure and potential tradeoffs with other priorities.
State and local governments, providers, and community groups: New and expanded reporting, evaluation, grant applications, and compliance requirements will create significant administrative burdens that can divert staff time and resources from direct services.
Pregnant people and providers: Expanded collection and public reporting of disaggregated data increases risks of reidentification or unintended privacy harms if safeguards fail.
Based on analysis of 17 sections of legislative text.
Creates federal grants, pilots, data reporting, trainings, and funding authorizations to reduce maternal mortality/morbidity, expand WIC, improve maternal mental health, and advance equity in maternal care.
Introduced March 18, 2026 by Lauren Underwood · Last progress March 18, 2026
Creates a broad federal effort to reduce preventable maternal deaths and severe maternal morbidity by funding research, grants, pilot payment models, data collection, training, and care improvements across multiple agencies. Key actions include extending WIC postpartum and breastfeeding eligibility, new and expanded grant programs for community-based maternal health equity and maternal mental health, targeted funding for VA maternity services, pilot alternative payment models for Medicaid/CHIP perinatal care, enhanced maternal surveillance and data reporting during public health emergencies, and requirements to improve respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care. Also requires stronger community engagement in maternal mortality review committees, programs to improve maternal care in Bureau of Prisons facilities, technology and telehealth grants for maternal care, climate-related maternal health grants, and a multi-agency task force to coordinate federal maternal health strategy and priorities. Multiple provisions include reporting, evaluation, and specific timelines for implementation and grant selection, and several authorizations of funding for FY2027 and later years.