Sponsors (72)
The bill strengthens identification, research, training, equity, and targeted climate‑resilient services to protect pregnant people and infants, but it requires new federal spending, adds administrative burdens, risks leaving some high‑need areas underserved, and raises privacy and stigma concerns.
Pregnant people and infants in high‑risk areas will be identified and receive targeted services, interventions, and research‑backed care (e.g., cooling, evacuation and housing assistance, clinical guidance, and NIH studies) to reduce climate‑related maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.
Racial and ethnic minority, low‑income, and other underserved communities get prioritized funding, community engagement, and culturally competent outreach to address disparities in maternal and infant outcomes.
Local communities gain climate‑resilience supports and infrastructure (weatherization, tree canopy, building upgrades, cooling/evacuation assistance) that reduce exposures to extreme heat, smoke, and floods for pregnant people and infants.
Taxpayers may face new federal spending and budget pressures from authorized grant programs, the NIH consortium, and expanded monitoring/reporting activities (including a $100M authorization and additional research/administrative costs).
Community organizations, grantees, and local public‑health departments will face increased administrative, reporting, and compliance burdens to collect and share detailed disaggregated data and meet grant requirements, straining limited staff and capacity.
Limited funding amounts and a small number of awards (e.g., up to 10 grantees for some grants; $5M for clinician training) mean many high‑risk areas, clinics, and schools may not receive support, leaving coverage gaps.
Based on analysis of 6 sections of legislative text.
Creates HHS grant programs, an NIH research consortium, health-professions training grants, and a CDC risk-mapping strategy to reduce climate-related maternal and infant health risks.
Official title: To protect Moms and babies against climate change, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 21, 2026 by Lauren Underwood · Last progress April 21, 2026
Creates new HHS and NIH programs and grants to identify, prevent, and respond to climate change–related risks that worsen maternal and infant health. It funds competitive grants to community providers, requires training for health professions schools, establishes an NIH research consortium, and directs CDC to map high-risk areas so resources target vulnerable mothers, babies, and pregnant people. Sets deadlines for program launch (180 days to 1 year), requires attention to racial and ethnic disparities and social vulnerability, limits grant uses to climate-related maternal and perinatal risk identification and services, and authorizes modest funding for the health workforce training program over FY2027–FY2030.