H.R. 6394

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6394 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6394

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

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 3, 2025

Mrs. Hinson (for herself and Mr. Gray) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity 
outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, 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 ``Midwives for Maximizing Optimal 
Maternity Services Act of 2025'' or the ``Midwives for MOMS Act of 
2025''.

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 (42 U.S.C. 294k) the 
following:

``SEC. 760A. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.

``(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:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited midwifery 
school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited midwifery 
school or program.
``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for 
increasing the number of, qualified preceptors for training the 
students of an accredited midwifery school or program.
``(b) Priority Evaluation.--In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give precedence to any institution of higher 
education that--
``(1) agrees to prioritize students who plan to practice in 
a health professional shortage area designated under section 
332; and
``(2) demonstrates a focus on recruitment and retention of 
students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities 
through--
``(A) enhanced recruitment strategies;
``(B) mentorship programs;
``(C) academic remediation; or
``(D) internships and fellowships.
``(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 2026 through 2030.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Midwifery school or program.--Section 799B(1)(A) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(A)) is amended--
(A) by inserting ```midwifery school or program','' 
before ``and `school of chiropractic''';
(B) by inserting ``a degree or certificate in 
midwifery or an equivalent degree or certificate,'' 
before ``and a degree of doctor of chiropractic or an 
equivalent degree''; and
(C) by striking ``any such school'' and inserting 
``any such school or program''.
(2) Accredited.--Section 799B(1)(E) of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``a 
midwifery school or program,'' before ``or a graduate program 
in health administration''.

SEC. 3. NURSE-MIDWIVES.

Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting 
after section 811 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 296j) the following:

``SEC. 812. MIDWIFERY EXPANSION PROGRAM.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to schools of 
nursing for the following:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(3) 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) Priority Evaluation.--In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give precedence to any school of nursing 
that--
``(1) 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
``(2) demonstrates a focus on recruitment and retention of 
students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities 
through--
``(A) enhanced recruitment strategies;
``(B) mentorship programs;
``(C) academic remediation; or
``(D) internships and fellowships.
``(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 2026 through 2030.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
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