Kathy Castor (D-FL)
Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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 Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2026 aims to increase the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research. It directs the FDA to harmonize regulations to better protect and include these women in research studies. The bill also requires an education campaign to inform patients and providers about the benefits of research and how to find clinical trials. Additionally, the NIH is tasked with prioritizing research projects specifically concerning drugs used by pregnant and lactating women. This includes establishing a process to fund research based on medical needs and disease severity.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would women be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits women by promoting their inclusion in clinical research and addressing their specific medical needs.
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into medical research?
The bill authorizes specific funding for the NICHD to carry out priority research projects concerning drugs used by pregnant and lactating women.
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill mandates priority research projects through the NICHD to address unmet medical needs in pregnant and lactating populations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Inclusion in Research: The bill seeks to promote the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical research and harmonize FDA regulations to facilitate this (Section 2).
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Improved Health Awareness: An education campaign will teach patients, families, and healthcare providers how including pregnant and lactating women in research can benefit maternal and infant health (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Better Access to Information: The Secretary will create a public website with a user-friendly interface to help people find clinical trials and registries involving pregnant and lactating women (Section 3(d)).
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Targeted Research Funding: The NICHD will carry out priority research projects on drugs prescribed for pregnant and lactating women, focusing on unmet medical needs and the severity of conditions (Section 4(a) and Section 4(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
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 directly benefits women by promoting their inclusion in clinical research and addressing their specific medical needs. Would children be better off under this? — The bill aims to improve infant health by facilitating research on drugs used during pregnancy and lactation.
- Healthcare
- Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill authorizes specific funding for the NICHD to carry out priority research projects concerning drugs used by pregnant and lactating women. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves healthcare access by establishing an education campaign and a public website to help patients find clinical trials for pregnant and lactating women.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill mandates priority research projects through the NICHD to address unmet medical needs in pregnant and lactating populations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill promotes gender equality by specifically addressing the medical research needs of pregnant and lactating women.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the NIH to submit annual reports to Congress regarding the amount of money expended and the rationale for research prioritization.
- 5/4/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Lauren UnderwoodDemocrat · Illinois