PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025

Bill Number: H.R. 1197
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-02-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-06-24T08:08:11Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 aims to extend and strengthen federal efforts to research preterm labor, delivery, and the care of preterm and low birthweight infants. It reauthorizes the original Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act by updating funding periods, mandating coordination among agencies, and requiring a comprehensive study on premature births to improve prevention, detection, and treatment.

Key Provisions

Extension of Research Funding: Authorizes funding for research on preterm labor, delivery, and outcomes for preterm/low birthweight infants through fiscal years 2025–2029 (previously 2019–2023).
Interagency Working Group: Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a working group within 18 months of enactment, in collaboration with other federal departments as needed, to coordinate efforts on prematurity (previously optional).
Study on Preterm Births: Directs HHS to contract with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene an expert committee within 30 days of enactment. The committee must produce and transmit a consensus report within 24 months to HHS and relevant congressional committees. The report will include:
Assessments of financial costs (e.g., neonatal intensive care unit stays, long-term family and societal expenses, post-discharge healthcare like medications and therapies).
Factors influencing preterm birth rates.
Opportunities for earlier risk detection, including ways to enhance maternal/infant health and provide public health support in hospitals, communities, and after discharge.
Analysis of targeted research for drugs/treatments to extend pregnancies, best practices from state/local programs to reduce rates, and precision medicine/preventive care approaches focusing on behavioral, biological, and lifelong health influences.
Technical Correction: Fixes a minor referencing error in the 2018 PREEMIE Reauthorization Act.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Shifts the interagency working group from permissive ("may establish") to mandatory ("shall establish") with a firm timeline.
Extends the authorization for prematurity-related research by six years, ensuring continued federal support.
Introduces a new, detailed study requirement not present in prior versions, emphasizing economic analysis, risk factors, and innovative interventions.
Includes a technical fix to clarify section numbering in the 2018 law, effective retroactively.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for HHS in funding research, coordinating interagency efforts, and commissioning the National Academies study, potentially leading to better resource allocation for maternal and infant health programs. Congressional committees will receive data to inform future policy.
Citizens: Families affected by preterm births may benefit from advanced research into prevention and care, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving long-term outcomes for infants and parents. Public health programs could expand support services, aiding at-risk pregnant individuals.
International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the bill focuses on domestic U.S. health research and policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Pregnant Individuals and Families: Primary beneficiaries through enhanced education, risk detection, and support to prevent or manage preterm births.
Infants and Children: Focus of research on low birthweight outcomes, with potential for improved treatments and lifelong health trajectories.
Healthcare Providers and Researchers: Gain from funded studies, best practices, and interagency collaboration to develop interventions.
Federal Agencies: HHS leads implementation; other departments may contribute to the working group.
National Academies and Academic Experts: Tasked with conducting the required study.
State and Local Programs: Highlighted for sharing best practices in reducing preterm rates.
Congress: Receives the study report to guide oversight and legislation on health funding.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Strengthens existing public health mandates under the original PREEMIE Act without creating new regulatory burdens; the study provision promotes evidence-based policymaking. No challenges to enforceability anticipated, as it builds on prior authorizations.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to fund and regulate public health under the Spending Clause; no First Amendment, privacy, or federalism issues raised, as it involves voluntary interagency coordination and contracted research.
Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by representatives from both parties) signals broad support for maternal-infant health initiatives. Could influence future budgets for HHS programs and highlight prematurity as a public health priority, potentially affecting debates on healthcare spending amid rising costs of neonatal care.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

Cosponsors (40)

Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4], Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]