‘‘(d) REDUCTIONS IN RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARI-
TIES.—The Director of NIH shall provide for the conduct
of research to investigate the mechanisms contributing to
the disparities in maternal and perinatal outcomes of ra-
cial and ethnic populations and immigrant groups.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.’’.
(d) IMPROVING THE UNDERSTANDING AND TREAT-
MENT
OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS
OF WOMEN DURING
PREGNANCY.—Part H of title IV of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.) is amended by insert-
ing after section 494A, the following:
‘‘SEC. 494B. IMPROVING THE UNDERSTANDING AND TREAT-
MENT OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS OF WOMEN
DURING PREGNANCY.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of NIH shall ex-
pand research concerning the impact of chronic conditions,
physical impairments, and mental health problems on the
health of women during their pregnancy.
‘‘(b) COLLABORATION.—In carrying out subsection
(a), the Director of the Institute shall act in collaboration
with the Directors of other appropriate Institutes and Of-
fices of the National Institutes of Health.’’.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.’’.
(e) MATERNAL
FETAL
MEDICINE
UNITS
NET-
WORK.—Subpart 7 of part C of title IV of the Public
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 285g et seq.), as amended
by subsection (c), is further amended by adding at the
end the following:
‘‘SEC. 452J. MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE UNITS NETWORK.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Institute
shall establish a Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network.
In carrying out this subsection, the Director may enter
into agreements to utilize the existing Maternal Fetal
Medicine Units Network.
‘‘(b) EXPANSION OF NETWORK.—The Director of the
Institute shall, through grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements, expand the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units
Network established or utilized under subsection (a) to as-
sist in the implementation of sections 452I and 494B.
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.’’.
SEC. 112. EXPAND AND INTENSIFY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION.
(a) REDUCTION IN POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOMES OF
ETHNIC AND MINORITY WOMEN.—Section 317K of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–12) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (f); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c), the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(d) REDUCTION IN POOR PREGNANCY OUTCOMES
OF ETHNIC AND MINORITY WOMEN.—
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting
through the Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, shall award grants to States
to support community-based demonstration projects
in disease prevention and health promotion to reduce
disparities in pregnancy outcomes, with particular
emphasis on social, economic, and behavioral health
issues (including violence and obesity) affecting ra-
cial and ethnic populations and immigrant groups.
Where practicable, such demonstration projects shall
be based on relevant scientific studies.
‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—In carrying out
paragraph (1), the Secretary may provide technical
assistance to States.’’.
(b) PREVENTION
RESEARCH
CENTERS.—Section
317K of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b–
12) is amended by inserting after subsection (d), as added
by subsection (a) of this section, the following:
‘‘(e) PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTERS.—The Direc-
tor of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, act-
ing through the National Center for Chronic Disease Pre-
vention and Health Promotion, shall award grants to uni-
versities and other non-profit research institutions and
centers to enable such entities to conduct research con-
cerning improving maternal outcomes and eliminating ra-
cial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality, with
special emphasis provided to research concerning the role
of stress, violence, discrimination, access, nutrition, obe-
sity and literacy.’’.
SEC. 113. IMPROVE QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR PREG-
NANT 
WOMEN 
THROUGH 
AGENCY 
FOR
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY.
Section 913 of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 299b–2) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(c) MATERNAL HEALTH CARE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide
for the conduct of research concerning the quality of
maternal health care from a patient-centered per-
spective, including—
‘‘(A) the type of care that is available and
provided prior to, during, and after pregnancy;
‘‘(B) an examination of all types of care
and interventions, both medical and non-med-
ical, as well as barriers women face in gaining
access to recommended treatments; and
‘‘(C) recommendations for the minimum
care needed to be considered as having received
quality care.
‘‘(2) REPORT.—The results of the research con-
ducted under paragraph (1) shall be provided by the
Director to Congress as part of the annual report
submitted under subsection (b)(2).’’.
Subtitle C—Data Collection and
Surveillance
SEC. 121. EXPAND AND INTENSIFY DATA COLLECTION AC-
TIVITIES AT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 317K the following: