H.R. 8811

[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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