H.R. 9065

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9065 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9065

To provide research on, and services for, individuals with clinical 
mental health complications following a pregnancy loss, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 29, 2026

Mr. McDowell (for himself and Mrs. Bice) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide research on, and services for, individuals with clinical 
mental health complications following a pregnancy loss, 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 ``Pregnancy Loss Mental Health 
Research Act of 2026''.

TITLE I--RESEARCH ON CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A 
PREGNANCY LOSS

SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL 
INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the 
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (in this section 
referred to as the ``Institute''), shall expand and intensify research 
and related activities of the Institute with respect to clinical mental 
health complications, including persistent complex bereavement 
disorder, following a pregnancy loss (including a miscarriage, 
stillbirth, or abortion).
(b) Coordination With Other Institutes.--The Director of the 
Institute shall coordinate the activities of the Director under 
subsection (a) with similar activities conducted by the other national 
research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health 
to the extent that such Institutes and agencies have responsibilities 
that are related to clinical mental health complications following a 
pregnancy loss (including a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion).
(c) Programs for Pregnancy Loss Conditions.--In carrying out 
subsection (a), the Director of the Institute shall conduct or support 
research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to identify 
treatment for, mental health conditions following a pregnancy loss, 
including the following:
(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of 
the conditions.
(2) The development of improved screening and diagnostic 
techniques.
(3) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of 
new treatments, including new biological agents.
(4) Information and education programs for health care 
professionals and the public.
(d) Longitudinal Study.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Institute shall 
conduct a national longitudinal study to determine the 
prevalence of mental health complications following a pregnancy 
loss, and the symptoms, severity, and duration of such cases, 
toward the goal of more fully identifying the characteristics 
of such cases and developing diagnostic techniques.
(2) Report.--Beginning not later than 3 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for 
the duration of the study under paragraph (1), the Director of 
the Institute shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report 
on the findings of the study, any progress with respect to the 
study, and methodologies used to conduct the study.

SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General.--For the purpose of carrying out this title, there 
is authorized to be appropriated $4,500,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2027 through 2028.
(b) Limitation.--Any amounts appropriated under this title are 
subject to the requirements and limitations under sections 506 and 507 
of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 
116-260) in the same manner and to the same extent as if such amounts 
for each year were appropriated under such division.

TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO MENTAL HEALTH 
COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A PREGNANCY LOSS

SEC. 201. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS FOLLOWING 
A PREGNANCY LOSS.

(a) Grants.--Section 317L-1(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 247b-13a(a)) is amended by striking ``pregnant, or have given 
birth within the preceding 12 months,'' and inserting ``are pregnant, 
have given birth within the preceding 12 months, or have experienced a 
pregnancy loss''.
(b) Use of Funds.--Paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(C) of section 317L-
1(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-13a(d)) are 
amended by inserting ``and women who have experienced a pregnancy 
loss'' after ``pregnant and postpartum women''.
(c) Dissemination of Best Practices.--Section 317L-1(f) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-13a(f)) is amended by 
inserting ``and for women who have experienced a pregnancy loss'' 
before the period at the end.
(d) Special Rules.--Section 317L-1 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 247b-13a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Assistance To Address Clinical Mental Health Conditions 
Following a Pregnancy Loss.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to the activities described 
in subsection (d), grant funds received by an entity under 
subsection (a) may be used for projects for the establishment, 
operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient 
systems for the delivery of mental health services to 
individuals struggling with clinical mental health conditions 
following a pregnancy loss.
``(2) Certain activities.--Projects referred to in 
paragraph (1) may include providing services for the screening, 
diagnosis, and management of mental health conditions, 
including persistent complex bereavement disorders, following a 
pregnancy loss, including--
``(A) delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-
based health and support services (including case 
management, screening, and mental health treatment 
services) for individuals with, or who are at risk of 
developing, mental health complications following a 
pregnancy loss, and delivering or enhancing support 
services for the families of such individuals;
``(B) delivering or enhancing inpatient care 
management services that ensure the well-being of the 
mother and family; and
``(C) improving the quality, availability, and 
organization of health care and support services 
(including transportation services, attendant care, 
homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing 
counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for 
individuals with mental health conditions following a 
pregnancy loss.
``(3) Subgrant recipients.--An entity receiving a grant 
under subsection (a) may carry out projects described in 
paragraph (1) by making subgrants to an entity (other than a 
prohibited entity) that--
``(A) is a public or nonprofit private entity, 
which may include--
``(i) a State, Tribal, or local 
governmental entity;
``(ii) a public or nonprofit private 
hospital, community-based organization, 
community health center, migrant health center, 
or homeless health center; or
``(iii) other appropriate public or 
nonprofit private entity; and
``(B) has experience in providing services for 
projects described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Prohibited entities.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (3), 
the term `prohibited entity' means an entity, including 
its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics, 
that performs, or provides any funds to any other 
entity that performs, abortions, other than--
``(i) in the case of a pregnancy that is 
the result of an act of rape or incest; or
``(ii) in the case where a woman suffers 
from a physical disorder, physical injury, or 
physical illness that would, as certified by a 
physician, place the woman in danger of death 
unless an abortion is performed, including a 
life endangering physical condition caused by, 
or arising from, the pregnancy itself.
``(B) End of prohibition.--The definition in 
subparagraph (A) shall cease to apply to an entity if 
such entity certifies that the entity, including its 
affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics, will 
not perform, and will not provide any funds to any 
other entity that performs, an abortion described in 
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Repayment by prohibited entity.--The 
Secretary shall seek repayment of any Federal 
assistance received by any entity that makes a 
certification described in subparagraph (B) and 
subsequently violates the terms of such certification.
``(5) Terms and conditions.--An entity receiving a grant 
under subsection (a) to carry out projects described in 
paragraph (1) shall be subject to the following terms and 
conditions:
``(A) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be 
used for administration, accounting, reporting, and 
program oversight functions.
``(B) The grant will be used to supplement and not 
supplant funds from other sources related to the 
treatment of clinical mental health conditions 
following a pregnancy loss.
``(C) The applicant will abide by any limitations 
deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to 
individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant. 
As determined appropriate by the Secretary, such 
limitations on charges may vary based on the financial 
circumstances of the individual receiving services.
``(D) The grant will not be expended to make 
payment for services to the extent that payment has 
been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made, 
with respect to such services--
``(i) under any State compensation program, 
under an insurance policy, or under any Federal 
or State health benefits program; or
``(ii) by an entity that provides health 
services on a prepaid basis.''.
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