Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act

Bill Number: H.R. 8807
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 2
Policy Area: Health
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2026-06-23T19:05:46Z

AI-Generated Summary

Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act H.R. 8807 – 119th Congress

Purpose

This bill authorizes funding and establishes new requirements to improve data collection, surveillance, research, public communication, and care recommendations related to maternal and infant health during public health emergencies. It focuses on infectious diseases that affect pregnant and postpartum individuals, with emphasis on reducing disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups.

Key Provisions

Funding authorizations (Section 2): Provides $190 million in total appropriations, allocated as follows:
$100 million to the CDC’s Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program for guidance, data partnerships with states and tribes, and regional centers of excellence.
$30 million to expand the ERASE MM program for maternal mortality review committees.
$45 million to enhance the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), including new survey questions on emergencies and respectful care, plus electronic platform improvements.
$15 million to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development for research on interventions, prioritizing groups with higher rates of maternal mortality and morbidity.
Data collection and public disclosure (Section 3): Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish de-identified data from federal surveillance systems on testing, cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals during emergencies. Data must be updated monthly during emergencies and disaggregated by race, ethnicity, geography, and other factors. Privacy protections follow HIPAA rules. Guidance is issued to states and labs on collecting demographic data, with consultation required for Indian Tribes.
Public health communication (Section 4): Directs the CDC to run education campaigns during emergencies targeting pregnant individuals, employers, and providers, with focus on underserved communities.
Task Force on maternity care (Section 5): Establishes a task force to develop and update recommendations on respectful maternity care, telehealth, midwifery, doula services, mental health, hospital capacity, and equity measures during emergencies. Membership includes federal officials, state and tribal health representatives, community organizations, providers, patients, and experts.
Definitions (Section 6): Clarifies terms such as maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, perinatal health worker, public health emergency, and respectful maternity care.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

The bill introduces new statutory requirements for ongoing public data release during emergencies and creates a federal task force with specific duties. It expands existing CDC programs (SET-MB, ERASE MM, PRAMS) through dedicated funding and new activities rather than amending core authorizing statutes. No direct changes to Medicaid, insurance coverage, or state licensing laws are made, though recommendations on these topics are required from the task force.

Potential Impacts

Government agencies: Increases responsibilities and resources for the CDC, CMS, HRSA, and other HHS components for surveillance, guidance, and public reporting.
Citizens: Provides more timely information and evidence-based recommendations to pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly in underserved or minority communities, potentially improving access to care and reducing risks during emergencies.
State, tribal, and local levels: Requires enhanced data sharing and capacity building for public health departments; includes specific consultation processes for Indian Tribes and Urban Indian organizations.
International relations: None identified in the legislation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Pregnant and postpartum individuals, especially those from racial and ethnic minority groups or with elevated health risks.
Federal agencies including the CDC, CMS, and HRSA.
State, tribal, territorial, and local public health departments.
Maternity care providers, midwives, doulas, and perinatal health workers.
Community-based organizations focused on maternal health equity.
Hospitals, laboratories, and employers of pregnant workers.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

The bill operates under existing public health authorities, including section 319 of the Public Health Service Act for emergency declarations. It includes explicit privacy safeguards consistent with HIPAA and requires tribal consultation. No new regulatory enforcement mechanisms or penalties are created. The legislation emphasizes equity in data collection and care recommendations but does not alter constitutional allocations of power between federal and state governments.

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 (67)

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. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], 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. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-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. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], 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. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] and 17 more