Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8397
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T08:07:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act aims to safeguard pregnant individuals, those who recently gave birth, and infants (termed "vulnerable individuals") from climate-related health risks, such as extreme heat, air pollution, and severe weather. It addresses how these risks contribute to poor maternal and infant health outcomes like preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, maternal death, and severe health issues during or after pregnancy.
Key Provisions
- Grant Program for Communities (Sec. 3): HHS Secretary must create a competitive grant program within 180 days, awarding funds to 10 consortia (groups including community organizations, possibly local governments, health providers, tribes, or schools) in high-risk counties. Grants span 4 years ($100 million authorized for FY 2027-2030). Uses include:
- Training health workers to spot and counsel on climate risks.
- Hiring perinatal health workers (e.g., doulas, community health workers).
- Monitoring local risks and sharing data.
- Providing air conditioners, weatherization, financial aid, housing/evacuation support.
- Community efforts like tree planting, infrastructure improvements, and outreach to underserved groups.
- Priorities: Areas with poor air quality, high social vulnerability, heat risks, maternal health issues, or natural hazards.
- Requirements: Address racial/ethnic disparities, avoid harm like displacement or rent hikes; annual reports; final HHS report to Congress after 5 years.
- Education Grants for Health Schools (Sec. 4): Within 1 year, HHS awards competitive grants to health profession schools (e.g., medical/nursing schools, residencies) ($5 million authorized for FY 2027-2030). Funds develop training on climate risks, disparities, counseling, bias, and access to services. Schools must engage communities; report annually and finally; HHS reports to Congress after 6 years.
- NIH Research Consortium (Sec. 5): NIH Director establishes within 1 year a group from relevant institutes (e.g., environmental health, minority health, child health) to coordinate research on climate risks to vulnerable groups. Duties: Set priorities (focusing on disparities), find data gaps, promote collaborations/funding/awareness; annual public reports; consults agencies, providers, communities.
- National Risk Strategy (Sec. 6): CDC Director develops/publishes within 18 months a plan to map "high-risk zones" combining climate threats with factors like pollution, healthcare access, poverty, and demographics. Includes data tools, monitoring needs, stakeholder coordination; public comment period.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new grant programs, research coordination, and a mapping strategy not previously mandated.
- No direct amendments to existing laws; builds on tools like CDC's Social Vulnerability Index, Clean Air Act nonattainment areas, and FEMA's National Risk Index.
- Authorizes new HHS/NIH/CDC activities with specific equity focuses (e.g., racial disparities, underserved populations).
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload/coordination for HHS (Secretary, CDC, NIH), EPA, NOAA, and others; requires technical assistance, reports, public data sharing; potential for expanded monitoring networks.
- Citizens: Improves services, training, and awareness in targeted high-risk areas, potentially reducing health disparities for pregnant/postpartum individuals and infants, especially minorities/underserved; provides direct aid like cooling devices or evacuation help.
- International Relations: None directly addressed.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Vulnerable Individuals: Pregnant people, those postpartum within 1 year, infants under 3; prioritized for racial/ethnic minorities and underserved groups.
- Health Providers/Workers: Doctors, nurses, midwives, perinatal workers (e.g., doulas), hospitals/birth centers.
- Communities/Organizations: Community-based groups, nonprofits (maternal health, environmental justice), tribes, local governments, public health departments.
- Educational Institutions: Health profession schools, minority-serving colleges.
- Federal Agencies: HHS components, NIH, EPA, NOAA, FEMA, CDC.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's spending power for grants/research; emphasizes evidence-based "best available science"; mandates transparency (public reports/comments) and anti-displacement safeguards.
- Constitutional: Standard federal health/environmental initiative; no apparent conflicts.
- Political: Bipartisan cosponsorship (119 members); highlights equity in climate/maternal health intersection; authorizes but does not guarantee funding, subject to appropriations process.
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 (70)
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3], Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] and 20 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-21: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act — issued 2026-04-21 — PDF (30 pages)