S. 4387

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4387 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4387

To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal 
morbidity or mortality as a result of being a victim of intimate 
partner violence.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2026

Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal 
morbidity or mortality as a result of being a victim of intimate 
partner violence.

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 ``Protect Moms From Domestic Violence 
Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
seek to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine 
(or, if the Academy declines to enter into such arrangement, another 
appropriate entity) to study how domestic violence, dating violence, 
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child 
sexual abuse, forced marriage, reproductive coercion, intergenerational 
violence, trauma, or psychiatric disorders impact risk for maternal 
morbidity and maternal mortality, including intimate partner homicide.
(b) Topics.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine--
(A) whether and how domestic violence, dating 
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, 
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, 
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence, 
trauma, or psychiatric disorders increase the risk of 
suicide, homicide, substance use, drug overdose, or 
poor birth outcomes among pregnant and postpartum 
persons; and
(B) the extent to which domestic violence, dating 
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, 
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, 
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence, 
trauma, or psychiatric disorders are social 
determinants of health; and
(2) give particular focus to impacts among diverse 
communities, including Black and African American, Hispanic and 
Latino, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, 
Alaskan Native, and LGBTQIA2S+ birthing persons, and adolescent 
mothers.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD 
HEALTH OUTCOMES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services 
Administration, and in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of 
the Administration for Children and Families, the Director of the 
Indian Health Service, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and 
Substance Use, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall award 
grants to eligible entities for developing and implementing innovative 
approaches, including culturally relevant public and provider education 
campaigns, to improve maternal and child health outcomes of victims of 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human 
trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, 
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence, trauma, or 
psychiatric disorders.
(b) Report to Congress on Best Practices.--Not later than 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, 
the Secretary of Health and Services shall report to Congress on best 
practices for developing and implementing innovative approaches 
described in subsection (a).
(c) Eligible Entity.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity 
shall be--
(1) a State, local governmental entity, or federally 
recognized Tribal government;
(2) a nonprofit organization or community-based 
organization that provides prevention or intervention services 
related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, 
stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual 
abuse, forced marriage, reproductive coercion, 
intergenerational violence, trauma, or psychiatric disorders;
(3) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian 
organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603));
(4) a Tribal epidemiology center described in section 214 
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621m);
(5) a federally qualified health center (as defined in 
section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x(aa)));
(6) a clinic certified as a certified community behavioral 
health clinic pursuant to section 223 of the Protecting Access 
to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a);
(7) an entity, the principal purpose of which is to provide 
health care, such as a hospital, clinic, health department, or 
freestanding birth center;
(8) an institution of higher education (as defined in 
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001));
(9) a substance use disorder treatment program with 
specialized services for parents; or
(10) a hospital or other health care facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(d) Priority in Awarding Grants.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall give priority 
to applicants proposing--
(1) to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 
violence, and mental health and substance use disorders among 
pregnant persons;
(2) to address issues relating to people experiencing 
domestic violence and sexual violence who are pregnant, persons 
at risk for becoming pregnant due to violence or abuse, and 
postpartum persons experiencing violence;
(3) to develop or implement innovative approaches, 
including cultural bias training, antiracism training or 
implicit bias interruption or reduction strategies, and 
strategies to identify and prevent domestic violence within all 
racial, cultural, ethnic and community groups, including Black 
or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, 
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and 
LGBTQIA2S+ persons;
(4) to develop or implement innovative approaches at Tribal 
epidemiology centers;
(5) to develop or implement innovative approaches relating 
to the improvement of maternal health surveillance; or
(6) to facilitate shared learning and dissemination of 
information through convening meetings with other grant 
recipients under this section.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2027 through 2029.

SEC. 4. GUIDANCE.

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish and disseminate to 
States, Indian Tribes, territories, health care providers, and managed 
care entities guidance on--
(1) developing protocols on and providing--
(A) universal education on healthy relationships 
and intimate partner violence;
(B) routine assessment of intimate partner violence 
and mental and behavioral health conditions; and
(C) health promotion and strategies for trauma-
informed care plans; and
(2) creating sustainable partnerships between health care 
providers and community-based organizations that address 
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, 
human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced 
marriage, reproductive coercion, or intergenerational violence.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Freestanding birth center.--The term ``freestanding 
birth center'' has the meaning given that term in section 
1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
(2) Maternal morbidity.--The term ``maternal morbidity'' 
means a health condition, including a mental health condition 
or substance use disorder, that--
(A) is attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or 
childbirth; and
(B) results in significant short-term or long-term 
consequences to the health of the individual who was 
pregnant.
(3) Maternal mortality.--The term ``maternal mortality''--
(A) means death that--
(i) occurs during, or within the 1-year 
period after, pregnancy; and
(ii) is attributed to or aggravated by 
pregnancy-related or childbirth complications; 
and
(B) includes a suicide, drug overdose death, 
homicide (including a domestic violence-related 
homicide), or other death resulting from a mental 
health or substance use disorder attributed to or 
aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth 
complications.
(4) Postpartum.--The term ``postpartum'' means the 12-month 
period following childbirth.
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