Moms Matter Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8811 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8811

    To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use
                   disorders, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 14, 2026

   Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Tlaib, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. Kamlager-Dove,
Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Ivey, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr.
Menefee, Mr. Bell, Mr. Moulton, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Cohen,
Ms. Stansbury, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Figures, Mr. Horsford, Mr.
 Garcia of Illinois, Mr. Veasey, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Smith of Washington,
    Ms. Sewell, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr.
 Conaway, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Craig, Mr. McGarvey,
  Mrs. Grijalva, Mr. Carson, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Latimer, Ms. Johnson of
      Texas, Mr. Soto, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Adams, Ms. Pou, and Mr.
 Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use
                   disorders, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Moms Matter Act''.

SEC. 2. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use,
shall establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to
address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders,
with a focus on demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal
mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or
other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
    (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to an eligible entity that--
            (1) is, or will partner with, a community-based
        organization to address maternal mental health conditions and
        substance use disorders described in subsection (a);
            (2) is operating in an area with elevated rates of maternal
        mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health
        disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;
        and
            (3) is operating in a health professional shortage area
        designated under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act
        (42 U.S.C. 254e).
    (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant for the following:
            (1) Establishing or expanding maternity care programs to
        improve the integration of maternal mental health and
        behavioral health care services into primary care settings
        where pregnant individuals regularly receive health care
        services.
            (2) Establishing or expanding group prenatal care programs
        or postpartum care programs.
            (3) Expanding existing programs that improve maternal
        mental and behavioral health during the prenatal and postpartum
        periods, with a focus on individuals from demographic groups
        with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
        morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse
        perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
            (4) Providing services and support for pregnant and
        postpartum individuals with maternal mental health conditions
        and substance use disorders, including referrals to addiction
        treatment centers that offer evidence-based treatment options.
            (5) Addressing stigma associated with maternal mental
        health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
        individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of
        maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health
        disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
            (6) Raising awareness of warning signs of maternal mental
        health conditions and substance use disorders, with a focus on
        pregnant and postpartum individuals from demographic groups
        with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
        morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse
        perinatal or childbirth outcomes.
            (7) Establishing or expanding programs to prevent suicide
        or self-harm among pregnant and postpartum individuals.
            (8) Offering evidence-aligned programs at freestanding
        birth centers that provide maternal mental and behavioral
        health care education, treatments, and services, and other
        services for individuals throughout the prenatal and postpartum
        period.
            (9) Establishing or expanding programs to provide education
        and training to maternity care providers with respect to--
                    (A) identifying potential warning signs for
                maternal mental health conditions or substance use
                disorders in pregnant and postpartum individuals, with
                a focus on individuals from demographic groups with
                elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal
                morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other
                adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and
                    (B) in the case where such providers identify such
                warning signs, offering referrals to mental and
                behavioral health care professionals.
            (10) Developing a website, or other source, that includes
        information on health care providers who treat maternal mental
        health conditions and substance use disorders.
            (11) Establishing or expanding programs in communities to
        improve coordination between maternity care providers and
        mental and behavioral health care providers who treat maternal
        mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including
        through the use of toll-free hotlines.
            (12) Carrying out other programs aligned with evidence-
        based practices for addressing maternal mental health
        conditions and substance use disorders for pregnant and
        postpartum individuals from demographic groups with elevated
        rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity,
        maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or
        childbirth outcomes.
    (e) Reporting.--
            (1) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives a
        grant under subsection (a) shall submit annually to the
        Secretary, and make publicly available, a report on the
        activities conducted using funds received through a grant under
        this section. Such reports shall include quantitative and
        qualitative evaluations of such activities, including the
        experience of individuals who received health care through such
        grant.
            (2) Secretary.--Not later than the end of fiscal year 2030,
        the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
                    (A) a summary of the reports received under
                paragraph (1);
                    (B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of grants
                awarded under this section;
                    (C) recommendations with respect to expanding
                coverage of evidence-based screenings and treatments
                for maternal mental health conditions and substance use
                disorders; and
                    (D) recommendations with respect to ensuring
                activities described under subsection (d) continue
                after the end of a grant period.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a community-based organization serving pregnant
                and postpartum individuals, including such
                organizations serving individuals from demographic
                groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality,
                severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities,
                or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;
                    (B) a nonprofit or patient advocacy organization
                with expertise in maternal mental and behavioral
                health;
                    (C) a maternity care provider;
                    (D) a mental or behavioral health care provider who
                treats maternal mental health conditions or substance
                use disorders;
                    (E) a State or local governmental entity, including
                a State or local public health department;
                    (F) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such
                terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
                Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
                5304)); and
                    (G) an Urban Indian organization (as such term is
                defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care
                Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)).
            (2) Freestanding birth center.--The term ``freestanding
        birth center'' has the meaning given that term under section
        1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
            (3) Maternal mortality.--The term ``maternal mortality''
        means a death occurring during or within a 1-year period after
        pregnancy, caused by pregnancy-related or childbirth
        complications, including a suicide, overdose, or other death
        resulting from a mental health or substance use disorder
        attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth
        complications.
            (4) Maternity care provider.--The term ``maternity care
        provider'' means a health care provider who--
                    (A) is a physician, a physician assistant, a
                midwife who meets, at a minimum, the international
                definition of a midwife and global standards for
                midwifery education as established by the International
                Confederation of Midwives, an advanced practice
                registered nurse, a doula accredited by a State to
                receive reimbursement for doula services under a State
                plan (or a waiver of such plan) under title XIX of the
                Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or a
                lactation consultant certified by the International
                Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners; and
                    (B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal health.
            (5) Postpartum and postpartum period.--The terms
        ``postpartum'' and ``postpartum period'' refer to the 1-year
        period beginning on the last day of the pregnancy of an
        individual.
            (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of Health and Human Services.
            (7) Severe maternal morbidity.--The term ``severe maternal
        morbidity'' means a health condition, including mental health
        conditions and substance use disorders, attributed to or
        aggravated by pregnancy or childbirth that results in
        significant short-term or long-term consequences to the health
        of the individual who was pregnant.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2031.

SEC. 3. GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL
              HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE.

    Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 757 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294f) the following new
section:

``SEC. 758. MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
              GRANTS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to entities to
establish or expand programs described in subsection (b) to grow and
diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
    ``(b) Use of Funds.--Recipients of grants under this section shall
use the grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral
health care workforce by--
            ``(1) establishing schools or programs that provide
        education and training to individuals seeking appropriate
        licensing or certification as mental or behavioral health care
        providers who will specialize in maternal mental health
        conditions or substance use disorders; or
            ``(2) expanding the capacity of existing schools or
        programs described in paragraph (1), for the purposes of
        increasing the number of students enrolled in such schools or
        programs, including by awarding scholarships for students.
    ``(c) Prioritization.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to any entity that--
            ``(1) has demonstrated a commitment to recruiting and
        retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority
        groups;
            ``(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain a
        diverse pool of students into the maternal mental or behavioral
        health care workforce program or school supported by funds
        received through the grant, particularly from racial and ethnic
        minority groups and other underserved populations;
            ``(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
        students who plan to practice in a health professional shortage
        area designated under section 332;
            ``(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and retain
        students who plan to practice in an area with significant
        maternal health disparities, to the extent practicable; and
            ``(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all students
        within the maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
        program or school a bias, racism, or discrimination training
        program that includes training on implicit bias and racism.
    ``(d) Reporting.--As a condition on receipt of a grant under this
section for a maternal mental or behavioral health care workforce
program or school, an entity shall agree to submit to the Secretary an
annual report on the activities conducted through the grant,
including--
            ``(1) the number and demographics of students participating
        in the program or school;
            ``(2) the extent to which students in the program or school
        are entering careers in--
                    ``(A) health professional shortage areas designated
                under section 332; and
                    ``(B) areas with significant maternal health
                disparities, to the extent such data are available; and
            ``(3) whether the program or school has included in the
        standard curriculum for all students a bias, racism, or
        discrimination training program that includes training on
        implicit bias and racism, and if so the effectiveness of such
        training program.
    ``(e) Period of Grants.--The period of a grant under this section
shall be up to 5 years.
    ``(f) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require,
including any information necessary for prioritization under subsection
(c).
    ``(g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide, directly
or by contract, technical assistance to entities seeking or receiving a
grant under this section on the development, use, evaluation, and
postgrant period sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral
health care workforce programs or schools proposed to be, or being,
established or expanded through the grant.
    ``(h) Report by the Secretary.--Not later than 4 years after the
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare and
submit to the Congress, and post on the internet website of the
Department of Health and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness
of the grant program under this section at--
            ``(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority
        groups and other underserved populations;
            ``(2) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
        care providers specializing in maternal mental health
        conditions or substance use disorders from racial and ethnic
        minority groups and other underserved populations;
            ``(3) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
        care providers specializing in maternal mental health
        conditions or substance use disorders working in health
        professional shortage areas designated under section 332; and
            ``(4) increasing the number of mental or behavioral health
        care providers specializing in maternal mental health
        conditions or substance use disorders working in areas with
        significant maternal health disparities, to the extent such
        data are available.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Racial and ethnic minority group.--The term `racial
        and ethnic minority group' has the meaning given such term in
        section 1707(g)(1).
            ``(2) Mental or behavioral health care provider.--The term
        `mental or behavioral health care provider' refers to a health
        care provider in the field of mental and behavioral health,
        including substance use disorders, acting in accordance with
        State law.
    ``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2031.''.
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