H.R. 6096

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6096 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6096

To amend title V of the Social Security Act to include as a special 
project of regional and national significance the purchase, 
acquisition, and distribution to mothers of newborn infants newborn 
supply kits, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 18, 2025

Ms. Letlow (for herself, Ms. Schrier, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Ms. 
Barragan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title V of the Social Security Act to include as a special 
project of regional and national significance the purchase, 
acquisition, and distribution to mothers of newborn infants newborn 
supply kits, 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 ``Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit 
Act'' or the ``NEST Act''.

SEC. 2. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS.

(a) In General.--Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 701(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and for evidence-based programs'' and 
inserting ``for evidence-based programs''; and
(2) by inserting before ``; and'' at the end the following: 
``, and for the purchase, acquisition, and distribution of 
newborn supply kits distributed in accordance with subsection 
(d)''.
(b) Newborn Supply Kit Defined.--Section 501(b) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701(b)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
``(5) The term `newborn supply kit' means a kit composed of 
essential goods to help mothers recover from childbirth and 
care for newborn infants that includes the following items:
``(A) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and 
thermometers for newborn infants.
``(B) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, 
breastfeeding supplies, information on the National 
Maternal Mental Health Hotline established under 
section 399V-7 of the Public Health Service Act, 
information on the National Women's Health and 
Breastfeeding Helpline and additional educational 
material on breastfeeding, information about Federal 
programs providing support to postpartum women and 
children, such as the special supplemental nutrition 
program for women, infants, and children under section 
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and evidence-
based educational material on the use of low-dose 
aspirin to address hypertension, preeclampsia, and 
preterm birth.
``(C) A blood pressure monitor.
``(D) Other items necessary to support infant and 
postpartum health (as determined by the Secretary).''.
(c) Set-aside.--Section 501(c) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 701(c)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of the funds made 
available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may 
reserve not more than $5,000,000 for the purpose of enabling the 
Secretary to provide for special projects of regional and national 
significance for the purchase, acquisition, and distribution of newborn 
supply kits in accordance with subsection (d).''.
(d) Administration.--Section 501 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 701) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d)(1) In purchasing or acquiring newborn supply kits using funds 
made available under subsection (c)(5), the Secretary shall make grants 
or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities that have 
a multi-state presence to procure such newborn supply kits for new 
mothers, such as community-based organizations, Federally qualified 
health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)), Tribal organizations 
(as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education 
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), and birthing hospitals.
``(2) In distributing newborn supply kits purchased or acquired 
using funds made available under subsection (c)(5), the entity that 
distributes such kits shall, as a condition on the receipt of such 
funds--
``(A) partner with a local organizations that serve the 
locations where such newborn supply kits are to be distributed;
``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the 
geographical diversity of the recipients of such newborn supply 
kits;
``(C) give priority to geographic areas with the greatest 
need, such as maternity care deserts, rural communities, and 
communities with the highest maternal mortality rates (such as 
the Delta region); and
``(D) give priority to mothers or newborn infants whose 
family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line 
(as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block 
Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a family of the size 
involved.''.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on 
which the first grant or cooperative agreement is awarded 
pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on the progress of the grants or cooperative agreements so 
awarded, including--
(A) the number of mothers served under the grants 
or cooperative agreements during the period covered by 
the report (disaggregated by race, family income level, 
and number of individuals in the household);
(B) the regions in the United States in which 
newborn supply kits are being distributed through such 
grants or cooperative agreements;
(C) feedback from mothers who have received newborn 
supply kits through such grants or cooperative 
agreements; and
(D) such other information, as determined necessary 
by the Secretary.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
on which the last grant or cooperative agreement is awarded 
pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a) for fiscal 
year 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on the results of the grants or 
cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to the amendment made 
by subsection (a) with respect to maternal and infant health 
outcomes.
(3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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