Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research Act of 1999

Summary: Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research Act of 1999 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) establish and implement a national monitoring and surveillance program to identify and promote the investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur during pregnancy; (2) expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and collect data in each of the 50 States; (3) expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each of the 50 States. 
Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the CDC, to expand research relating to: (1) encouraging preconception counseling; (2) identifying critical components of prenatal delivery and postpartum care, outreach and support services for pregnant women, and women who are at high risk for complications; (3) preventing preterm delivery, urinary tract infections, and unnecessary caesarean sections; (4) examining the higher rates of maternal mortality among African American women and the relationship between domestic violence and maternal complications and mortality; and (5) preventing substance abuse during and after pregnancy and infections that cause maternal and infant complications. 
Authorizes the Secretary, acting through the CDC, to carry out activities to promote safe motherhood, including public education campaigns on healthy pregnancies, education programs for health care providers, and activities to promote community support for pregnant women. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Motherhood 
Monitoring and Prevention Research Act of 1999''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The total maternal mortality has not declined in the 
        United States since 1982.
            (2) The four-fold increase in risk of maternal death among 
        black women compared to white women is one of the largest 
        racial disparities among the public health indicators.
            (3) United States vital statistics data indicate that 
        between 1987 and 1996 at least 3,086 women died as a 
        consequence of pregnancy or its complications in the United 
        States.
            (4) Misclassification on death certificates causes these 
        data to underestimate maternal mortality, and the true number 
        of maternal deaths is estimated to be 1.3 to 3 times higher 
        than that reported in vital statistics records, indicating a 
        need for improved surveillance and public monitoring of this 
        outcome.
            (5) Early diagnosis and effective treatment of pregnancy 
        complications are critical to reduce maternal mortality.
            (6) Underserved populations many times live in 
        socioeconomic conditions that lack the support systems and 
        financial resources necessary to ensure quality health care for 
        expectant mothers and infant newborns.
            (7) By investing in public health surveillance and 
        prevention research to monitor and identify causes of maternal 
        mortality and in maternal health programs to promote maternal 
        health, the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity can be 
        reduced in the United States.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.

    Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:

                  ``PART Q--SAFE MOTHERHOOD PROMOTION

``SEC. 399L. SAFE MOTHERHOOD MONITORING.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to develop 
monitoring systems at the local, State, and national level to better 
understand the burden of maternal complications and mortality and to 
decrease the disparities among population at risk of death and 
complications from pregnancy.
    ``(b) Activities.--For the purpose described in subsection (a), the 
Secretary may carry out the following activities:
            ``(1) The Secretary, acting through the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention, may establish and implement a national 
        monitoring and surveillance program to identify and promote the 
        investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur 
        during pregnancy.
            ``(2) The Secretary, acting through the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention, may expand the Pregnancy Risk 
        Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and 
        collect data in each of the 50 States.
            ``(3) The Secretary, acting through the Centers for Disease 
        Control and Prevention, may expand the Maternal and Child 
        Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, 
        financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior 
        epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each 
        of the 50 States.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2000).''.

``SEC. 399M. PREVENTION RESEARCH TO ENSURE SAFE MOTHERHOOD.

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to provide the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the authority to 
further expand research concerning risk factors, prevention strategies, 
and the roles of the family, health care providers and the community in 
safe motherhood.
    ``(b) Research.--The Secretary, acting through the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, may carry out activities to expand 
research relating to--
            ``(1) encouraging preconception counseling, especially for 
        at risk populations such as diabetics;
            ``(2) the identification of critical components of prenatal 
        delivery and postpartum care;
            ``(3) the identification of outreach and support services, 
        such as folic acid education, that are available for pregnant 
        women;
            ``(4) the identification of women who are at high risk for 
        complications;
            ``(5) preventing preterm delivery;
            ``(6) preventing urinary tract infections;
            ``(7) preventing unnecessary caesarean sections;
            ``(8) an examination of the higher rates of maternal 
        mortality among African American women;
            ``(9) an examination of the relationship between domestic 
        violence and maternal complications and mortality;
            ``(10) preventing smoking, alcohol and illegal drug usage 
        before, during and after pregnancy;
            ``(11) preventing infections that cause maternal and infant 
        complications; and
            ``(12) other areas determined appropriate by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be appropriate 
for each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2000).

``SEC. 399N. PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO ENSURE SAFE MOTHERHOOD.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention may carry out activities to promote safe 
motherhood, including--
            ``(1) public education campaigns on healthy pregnancies and 
        the building of partnerships with outside organizations 
        concerned about safe motherhood;
            ``(2) education programs for physicians, nurses and other 
        health care providers; and
            ``(3) activities to promote community support services for 
        pregnant women.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be appropriate 
for each fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2000).''.