A Democratic bill with 7 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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 Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act authorizes funding for data collection, surveillance, and research regarding maternal health outcomes during public health emergencies. It allocates significant funds to the CDC for programs addressing emerging threats, enhancing mortality reviews, and improving the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. The bill requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make specific maternal and infant health data publicly available and disaggregated by various demographic factors. Additionally, it mandates public health education campaigns to provide accurate information to families and providers. A specialized task force will be established to develop federal recommendations for respectful and empowering maternity care. These recommendations aim to address disparities and improve outcomes for high-risk populations during health emergencies.
Yes· 3 of 15
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The bill provides substantial funding and a task force dedicated to improving maternal and postpartum health outcomes.
- Scored +8
Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak?
The bill authorizes significant funding for surveillance, research, and data collection specifically related to health outcomes during public health emergencies.
- Scored +8
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill prioritizes data collection and medical interventions specifically for racial and ethnic minority groups facing health disparities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Risk Reduction Guidance: The CDC will work with community organizations to provide updated guidance to help families and providers reduce risks to pregnant and postpartum individuals (Section 2, Subsection 1A).
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Better Clinical Data Analysis: Support for partnering with local health programs will help analyze how public health emergencies impact patients, particularly those from racial and ethnic minority groups (Section 2, Subsection 1B).
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Community Support via Centers of Excellence: The creation of regional centers of excellence aims to ensure communities can provide necessary care and support for those facing elevated rates of maternal mortality or health disparities (Section 2, Subsection 1C).
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Enhanced Maternal Mortality Oversight: Funding for the "ERASE MM" program will expand partnerships with States and Indian Tribes to provide technical assistance to Maternal Mortality Review Committees (Section 2, Subsection 2).
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Improved Survey Accuracy and Accessibility: The PRAMS program will add questions regarding respectful maternity care and transition to an electronic platform to reach larger, underrepresented populations (Section 2, Subsection 3).
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Targeted Research for Interventions: The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development will conduct research for interventions specifically targeting demographic groups with elevated maternal health risks (Section 2, Subsection 4).
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Increased Data Transparency: The Secretary is required to make data regarding hospitalizations, deaths, and health outcomes related to infectious diseases available on the CDC website (Section 3, Subsection a and b).
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Development of Quality Care Recommendations: The Task Force will create recommendations to ensure high-quality, nondiscriminatory maternity care, which include improving access to telehealth, specialized care, and mental health support (Section 5, Subsection a and b).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Privacy and Data Security Risks: While the bill mandates steps to protect privacy and ensure data is deidentified, the collection of health data related to infectious diseases and hospitalizations carries inherent privacy considerations (Section 3, Subsection f).
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 provides substantial funding and a task force dedicated to improving maternal and postpartum health outcomes. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly requires consultation with Indian Tribes and provides technical assistance to tribal public health programs. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill targets racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity through enhanced surveillance and research. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes mandates to collect and disaggregate data by race and ethnicity to address health disparities. Would children be better off under this? — The bill funds research and surveillance intended to improve the long-term health of newborns. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill focuses on improving care for underserved communities and addressing the needs of uninsured individuals. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill addresses mental health and behavioral health conditions that can affect those with disabilities.
- Healthcare
- Does this make the country readier for the next outbreak? — The bill authorizes significant funding for surveillance, research, and data collection specifically related to health outcomes during public health emergencies. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill funds programs to improve maternal health outcomes and provides guidance for accessing specialized and telehealth care. Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill mandates research and recommendations for identifying and treating prenatal and postpartum mental health conditions. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill directs a task force to develop recommendations for expanding doula coverage under State Medicaid programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes data collection and medical interventions specifically for racial and ethnic minority groups facing health disparities. Does this make child care cost less? — The task force is directed to develop strategies for providing child care services during prenatal and postpartum appointments.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill allocates $15,000,000 to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for targeted medical research.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the CDC to make specific maternal and infant health data publicly available on its website.
- 5/18/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota