A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill is called the Supporting Veteran Mothers Act of 2026. It requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make sure that Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities have enough maternity care coordinators. Specifically, facilities must have at least one full-time worker dedicated only to maternity care coordination for every 75 to 100 pregnant or postpartum patients per year. Facilities must review their staffing levels every two years. If a facility does not meet the minimum staffing requirement, it must submit a staffing action plan to the Secretary and congressional committees within 45 days. The bill also requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress and publish public summaries on the Department website for four years.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets the healthcare needs of female veterans by improving maternity care staffing and oversight in VA facilities.
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Veteran mothers will receive higher quality healthcare coordination and more attentive support during pregnancy and postpartum periods.
- Scored +7
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill ensures VA medical facilities maintain sufficient staffing levels of maternity care coordinators for pregnant and postpartum veterans.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better maternity care staffing: Under Section 2(a)(1) (adding new section 1713(a)), covered VA medical facilities must maintain at least one full-time equivalent employee assigned solely to maternity care coordination for every 75 to 100 pregnant or postpartum patients per year. This ensures that pregnant and postpartum veterans get dedicated help and attention without staff being pulled into unrelated duties.
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Regular staffing checks: Under Section 2(a)(1) (adding new section 1713(b)), the head of each covered medical facility must review staffing levels at least once every two years to document staff and patient numbers. This forces officials to keep track of workloads and hold themselves accountable for meeting patient needs.
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Action plans for fixing shortages: Under Section 2(a)(1) (adding new section 1713(c)), if a facility falls short of the required maternity staffing levels, the head of the facility must submit a staffing action plan within 45 days to describe the needed adjustments, timelines, and resources, and then promptly carry it out. This ensures that identified staffing problems are actively fixed rather than ignored.
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Public and congressional oversight: Under Section 2(c), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit annual reports to congressional committees and publish a public summary on the Department website for four years. This keeps the public and elected officials informed about how well VA facilities are staffed and performing.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Burdens during workforce shortages: Under Section 2(a)(1) (adding new section 1713(d)), facilities can request a waiver if extraordinary circumstances like a local workforce shortage make the staffing plan unlikely to succeed. If a waiver is not granted in a struggling area, a facility might face difficulties and bureaucratic burdens trying to meet rigid federal staffing timelines when qualified workers are simply not available.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets the healthcare needs of female veterans by improving maternity care staffing and oversight in VA facilities. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veteran mothers will receive higher quality healthcare coordination and more attentive support during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Younger adult veterans of childbearing age will benefit directly from improved maternity care coordination at VA facilities. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged veterans who are pregnant or postpartum will benefit from better-resourced maternity care coordination services at the VA.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill ensures VA medical facilities maintain sufficient staffing levels of maternity care coordinators for pregnant and postpartum veterans. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By requiring dedicated maternity care coordinators at VA facilities, the bill improves access to specialized healthcare services for veteran mothers.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The legislation enhances healthcare support and staffing resources provided to veterans, specifically maternity care coordination.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates regular reviews, annual congressional reports, and public website summaries regarding VA maternity care staffing levels.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill supports female veterans by mandating adequate maternity healthcare coordination within Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.
- 11/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House