Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8869
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T14:49:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation, titled the Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026, aims to expand federal support for studying the effects of traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on mothers, infants, and families. It focuses on maternal mental health, family outcomes, and connections to severe maternal health complications.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 330P of the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or fund research on traumatic birth experiences and PTSD impacts, including short- and long-term maternal mental health effects, outcomes for mothers/infants/families, and links to severe maternal morbidity.
- Requires research findings to be broken down by race and ethnicity.
- Establishes a pilot program to award grants studying how midwife-led care models compare to traditional medical models in affecting traumatic births and maternal mental health.
- Mandates interim and final reports to Congress by the end of fiscal years 2028 and 2030, respectively.
- Authorizes $1,000,000 annually for research from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, plus "such sums as may be necessary" for the pilot program from 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Updates Section 330P to explicitly include States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations as eligible for awards (previously limited to grants under subsection (a)).
- Adds a new research subsection (b) and a definition subsection for key terms, while updating eligibility and terms language to cover both existing and new award types.
- Introduces dedicated funding streams and a separate pilot initiative not present in prior law.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to lead or support new research efforts and submit congressional reports.
- On citizens: May improve understanding of maternal mental health challenges, potentially informing future support services for affected mothers, infants, and families.
- On international relations: No provisions address this area.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Mothers, infants, and families experiencing traumatic births.
- States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations eligible for research funding.
- Health care providers, including midwives and medical professionals.
- The Department of Health and Human Services and Congress.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill makes targeted amendments to existing public health law without altering core authorities or raising apparent constitutional concerns. It emphasizes data disaggregation by race and ethnicity in research, which could influence how federal health data is collected and analyzed.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-15: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-15 — PDF (6 pages)