I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8715 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a pilot 

program under which the Secretary enters into public-private partnerships with eligible entities to distribute to mothers of newborn infants 

newborn supply kits, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 12, 2024 

Ms. LETLOW (for herself, Ms. SCHRIER, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, and Ms. 

BARRAGA ́N) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to 

establish a pilot program under which the Secretary enters into public-private partnerships with eligible entities 

to distribute to mothers of newborn infants newborn 

supply kits, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Newborns Essentials 

5 Support Toolkit Act’’ or the ‘‘NEST Act’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 8715 IH

1 SEC. 2. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 

3 Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec4 retary’’) shall establish a pilot program under which the 

5 Secretary will make grants or enter into cooperative agree6 ments with eligible entities to distribute to mothers of 

7 newborn infants newborn supply kits. 

8 (b) DISTRIBUTION CRITERIA.—An eligible entity that 

9 receives a grant or enters into a cooperative agreement 

10 under subsection (a) shall agree, as a condition on receiv11 ing such a grant or entering into such an agreement, that 

12 in distributing newborn supply kits using funds received 

13 through the pilot program under this section, the entity 

14 shall— 

15 (1) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure 

16 the geographical diversity of the recipients of such 

17 newborn supply kits; 

18 (2) give priority to geographic areas with the 

19 greatest need, such as maternal care deserts, rural 

20 communities, and communities with the highest ma21 ternal mortality rates (such as the Delta region); 

22 and 

23 (3) give priority to mothers of newborn infants 

24 whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of 

25 the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 8715 IH

1 Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 

2 9902(2))) for a family of the size involved. 

3 (c) REPORTS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year 

5 after the date on which the first grant or cooperative 

6 agreement is awarded under subsection (a), the Sec7 retary shall submit to the appropriate committees of 

8 Congress a report on the progress of the pilot pro9 gram under this section, including— 

10 (A) the number of mothers served under 

11 the pilot program (disaggregated by race, fam12 ily income level, and number of individuals in 

13 the household); 

14 (B) the regions in the United States in 

15 which newborn supply kits are being distributed 

16 through the pilot program; 

17 (C) feedback from mothers who have re18 ceived newborn supply kits through the pilot 

19 program; and 

20 (D) such other information, as determined 

21 necessary by the Secretary. 

22 (2) FINAL REPORT.—At the conclusion of the 

23 pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall 

24 submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 

25 report— 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 8715 IH

1 (A) on the results of the pilot program 

2 with respect to maternal and infant health out3 comes; and 

4 (B) that includes the Secretary’s rec5 ommendation on whether to extend or expand 

6 the pilot program. 

7 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON9 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con10 gress’’ means— 

11 (A) the Committee on Energy and Com12 merce of the House of Representatives; 

13 (B) the Committee on Health, Education, 

14 Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; 

15 (C) the Committee on Appropriations of 

16 the House of Representatives; and 

17 (D) the Committee on Appropriations of 

18 the Senate. 

19 (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti20 ty’’ means— 

21 (A) a community-based organization; 

22 (B) a hospital; or 

23 (C) another organization serving mothers 

24 and infants. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 8715 IH

1 (3) NEWBORN SUPPLY KIT.—The term ‘‘new2 born supply kit’’ means a kit composed of essential 

3 goods to help mothers recover from childbirth and 

4 care for newborn infants that includes the following 

5 items: 

6 (A) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blan7 kets, and thermometers for newborn infants. 

8 (B) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, 

9 breastfeeding supplies, information on the ma10 ternal mental health hotline, information about 

11 Federal programs providing support to 

12 postpartum women and children, such as the 

13 special supplemental nutrition program for 

14 women, infants, and children under section 17 

15 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 

16 1786), and evidence-based educational material 

17 on the use of low-dose aspirin to address hyper18 tension, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. 

19 (C) A blood pressure monitor. 

20 (D) Other items necessary to support in21 fant and postpartum health (as determined by 

22 the Secretary). 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 8715 IH

1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

2 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

3 $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS