Momnibus Act

Bill Number: H.R. 7973
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-04-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Last Updated: 2026-06-30T08:07:10Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Momnibus Act (H.R. 7973) aims to eliminate preventable maternal deaths (defined as deaths during or within one year after pregnancy from related complications, including suicides or overdoses tied to pregnancy), severe maternal morbidity (serious short- or long-term health issues from pregnancy/childbirth), and maternal health disparities in the U.S. It promotes equitable, respectful, culturally congruent care (care matching patients' cultural values, language, and practices) through coordinated federal efforts addressing clinical, social, and environmental factors.

Key Provisions

The bill authorizes billions in funding (FY 2027–2031/2032) across 14 titles:

Title I (Social Determinants): Creates HHS-led task force with federal agencies (e.g., HUD, USDA) and stakeholders to strategize on barriers like housing, food access, violence; grants ($100M/year) to community orgs/Tribes for nonclinical supports (e.g., transportation, nutrition).
Title II (WIC Extension): Extends postpartum WIC eligibility and breastfeeding support from 6/12 months to 24 months.
Title III (Honoring Kira Johnson): $100M/year grants to community orgs for equity programs; mandates respectful maternity care training (bias/racism) for all staff; studies/compliance programs for reporting bias; GAO reports.
Title IV (Veterans): $15M/year for VA maternity coordination; annual reports on outcomes.
Title V (Perinatal Workforce): HHS guidance/recruitment for diverse providers (midwives, doulas); $15M/year grants each for perinatal/nursing/mental health workforce training/scholarships emphasizing bias training; GAO barriers report.
Title VI (Data): Funds ($10M+) for diverse maternal mortality review committees; improves data collection (e.g., severe morbidity, suicides); studies on AI/AN maternal health, minority-serving institutions ($10M/year).
Title VII (Moms Matter): $25M/year mental health equity grants; $15M/year workforce grants.
Title VIII (Incarcerated Moms): Withholds 25% federal justice grants from states without shackling bans; model programs ($10M/year each) in federal/state prisons for prenatal/postpartum care (nutrition, doulas, reentry); GAO report.
Title IX (Tech): Medicaid telehealth demo for pregnancy monitoring; $6M/year grants for tech learning/digital equity; National Academies study on tech biases.
Title X (Payment Models): 5-year Medicaid/CHIP demo for alternative payments emphasizing risk stratification, diverse teams.
Title XI (Pandemics): $190M+ for CDC/NIH data/surveillance; public data disclosure; task force on respectful care during emergencies.
Title XII (Climate): $100M grants to consortia for climate risk mitigation (e.g., AC units, tree canopies); education grants ($5M); NIH consortium; CDC risk-zone strategy.
Title XIII (NIH): $73.4M/year for IMPROVE Initiative on disparities/research.
Title XIV (Vaccinations): Expands awareness campaign ($17M/year) targeting pregnant/postpartum equity.

Definitions (Sec. 3) standardize terms like maternity provider (includes midwives, doulas), postpartum (1 year post-pregnancy), social determinants (nonclinical factors like housing).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

WIC (Child Nutrition Act): Postpartum/breastfeeding eligibility doubled to 24 months.
Public Health Service Act: Adds grants/training sections (e.g., respectful care, workforce, tech models); enhances maternal mortality reviews (include severe morbidity, community input).
Justice Grants: Penalizes states without pregnant shackling bans (similar to federal law).
Medicaid (Social Security Act): New telehealth/payment demos; CMMI model priority.
NIH/CDC: New initiatives/consortia; expanded surveillance (e.g., PRAMS electronic, ERASE MM).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: HHS/CMS/CDC/NIH/VA/DOJ gain duties/funding ($2B+ total authorizations); interagency task forces; reports/evaluations required. States face grant incentives/penalties.
Citizens: Improved access to equitable care, nutrition, mental health, tech; reduced disparities for minorities, AI/AN, rural, low-income, incarcerated, veterans; climate protections (e.g., cooling aids). Potential cost savings via prevention/demos.
International Relations: None direct (U.S.-focused).

Main Stakeholders Affected

Pregnant/postpartum individuals: Especially racial/ethnic minorities, AI/AN, low-income, incarcerated, veterans (better care, supports).
Providers/workforce: Maternity teams (midwives, doulas, nurses), community health workers (training, jobs, pay equity).
Community orgs/Tribes/Institutions: Grants for programs/data/research.
States/prisons/hospitals: Compliance, programs, reporting.
Federal agencies: Implementation/oversight.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Equity Focus: Mandates bias training, disaggregated data, priority for underserved groups; advances health justice without quotas.
Federalism: State incentives/penalties (e.g., shackling, MMR committees); voluntary grants/demos.
Privacy/Funding: HIPAA-compliant data; new appropriations (non-mandatory spending).
No Major Constitutional Issues: Aligns with spending power, public health authority; neutral on abortion (focuses prenatal/postpartum).
Political: Bipartisan sponsors (220+); comprehensive (social/clinical/environmental) may spark debates on spending ($2B+), mandates, disparities framing.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Cosponsors (212)

Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2] and 162 more

Recent Actions

2026-04-20: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
2026-03-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Workforce, Veterans' Affairs, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2026-03-18: Introduced in House
2026-03-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Momnibus Act — issued 2026-03-18 — PDF (173 pages)