I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 959 
To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in 
the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 8, 2021 
Ms. UNDERWOOD (for herself, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. KHANNA, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, 
Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. CARSON, 
Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. BEATTY, 
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of 
Pennsylvania, Ms. OMAR, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. RYAN, Mr. 
BISHOP
of Georgia, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. JOHNSON
of Georgia, Mr. 
HORSFORD, Ms. SEWELL, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. WASSERMAN 
SCHULTZ, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. 
PAYNE, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SUOZZI, Ms. 
DEGETTE, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. CRAIG, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Flor-
ida, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. SOTO, Mr. NADLER, Mr. TRONE, Mrs. LURIA, 
Mr. SARBANES, Ms. SPANBERGER, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, 
Mrs. BUSTOS, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. 
BOWMAN, Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas, Ms. SCHRIER, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. 
BASS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. LEE of California, Ms. HOULAHAN, 
Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. EVANS, Ms. BUSH, Mr. 
CROW, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Ms. CHU, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. CONNOLLY, 
Ms. JACOBS of California, Mrs. DEMINGS, Mr. BERA, Ms. KUSTER, Mrs. 
TORRES of California, Mr. TONKO, Mrs. FLETCHER, Ms. JACKSON LEE, 
Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. PINGREE, Mr. STANTON, Mr. JONES, Ms. WILD, 
Mr. RASKIN, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, and Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Geor-
gia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Finan-
cial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, 
the Judiciary, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs, for 
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
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A BILL 
To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal 
morbidity in the United States and close disparities in 
maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Black Maternal Health 
Momnibus Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Sense of Congress. 
TITLE I—SOCIAL DETERMINANTS FOR MOMS 
Sec. 101. Task force to develop a strategy to address social determinants of 
maternal health. 
Sec. 102. Housing for Moms grant program. 
Sec. 103. Department of Transportation. 
Sec. 104. Department of Agriculture. 
Sec. 105. Environmental study through National Academies. 
Sec. 106. Child care access. 
Sec. 107. Grants to local entities addressing social determinants of maternal 
health. 
TITLE II—HONORING KIRA JOHNSON 
Sec. 201. Investments in community-based organizations to improve Black ma-
ternal health outcomes. 
Sec. 202. Investments in community-based organizations to improve maternal 
health outcomes in underserved communities. 
Sec. 203. Respectful maternity care training for all employees in maternity care 
settings. 
Sec. 204. Study on reducing and preventing bias, racism, and discrimination in 
maternity care settings. 
Sec. 205. Respectful maternity care compliance program. 
Sec. 206. GAO report. 
TITLE III—PROTECTING MOMS WHO SERVED 
Sec. 301. Support for maternity care coordination. 
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Sec. 302. Report on maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among 
pregnant and postpartum veterans. 
TITLE IV—PERINATAL WORKFORCE 
Sec. 401. HHS agency directives. 
Sec. 402. Grants to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce. 
Sec. 403. Grants to grow and diversify the nursing workforce in maternal and 
perinatal health. 
Sec. 404. GAO report. 
TITLE V—DATA TO SAVE MOMS 
Sec. 501. Funding for maternal mortality review committees to promote rep-
resentative community engagement. 
Sec. 502. Data collection and review. 
Sec. 503. Review of maternal health data collection processes and quality meas-
ures. 
Sec. 504. Indian Health Service study on maternal mortality and severe mater-
nal morbidity. 
Sec. 505. Grants to minority-serving institutions to study maternal mortality, 
severe maternal morbidity, and other adverse maternal health 
outcomes. 
TITLE VI—MOMS MATTER 
Sec. 601. Maternal mental health equity grant program. 
Sec. 602. Grants to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral 
health care workforce. 
TITLE VII—JUSTICE FOR INCARCERATED MOMS 
Sec. 701. Ending the shackling of pregnant individuals. 
Sec. 702. Creating model programs for the care of incarcerated individuals in 
the prenatal and postpartum periods. 
Sec. 703. Grant program to improve maternal health outcomes for individuals 
in State and local prisons and jails. 
Sec. 704. GAO report. 
Sec. 705. MACPAC report. 
TITLE VIII—TECH TO SAVE MOMS 
Sec. 801. Integrated telehealth models in maternity care services. 
Sec. 802. Grants to expand the use of technology-enabled collaborative learning 
and capacity models for pregnant and postpartum individuals. 
Sec. 803. Grants to promote equity in maternal health outcomes through digital 
tools. 
Sec. 804. Report on the use of technology in maternity care. 
TITLE IX—IMPACT TO SAVE MOMS 
Sec. 901. Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project. 
Sec. 902. MACPAC report. 
TITLE X—MATERNAL HEALTH PANDEMIC RESPONSE 
Sec. 1001. Definitions. 
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Sec. 1002. Funding for data collection, surveillance, and research on maternal 
health outcomes during the COVID–19 public health emer-
gency. 
Sec. 1003. COVID–19 maternal health data collection and disclosure. 
Sec. 1004. Inclusion of pregnant individuals and lactating individuals in vaccine 
and therapeutic development for COVID–19. 
Sec. 1005. Public health communication regarding maternal care during 
COVID–19. 
Sec. 1006. Task force on birthing experience and safe maternity care during a 
public health emergency. 
Sec. 1007. GAO report on maternal health and public health emergency pre-
paredness. 
TITLE XI—PROTECTING MOMS AND BABIES AGAINST CLIMATE 
CHANGE 
Sec. 1101. Definitions. 
Sec. 1102. Grant program to protect vulnerable mothers and babies from cli-
mate change risks. 
Sec. 1103. Grant program for education and training at health profession 
schools. 
Sec. 1104. NIH Consortium on Birth and Climate Change Research. 
Sec. 1105. Strategy for identifying climate change risk zones for vulnerable 
mothers and babies. 
TITLE XII—MATERNAL VACCINATIONS 
Sec. 1201. Maternal vaccination awareness and equity campaign. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) CULTURALLY CONGRUENT.—The term ‘‘cul-
turally congruent’’, with respect to care or maternity 
care, means care that is in agreement with the pre-
ferred cultural values, beliefs, worldview, language, 
and practices of the health care consumer and other 
stakeholders. 
(2) MATERNITY
CARE
PROVIDER.—The term 
‘‘maternity care provider’’ means a health care pro-
vider who— 
(A) is a physician, physician assistant, 
midwife who meets at a minimum the inter-
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national definition of the midwife and global 
standards for midwifery education as estab-
lished by the International Confederation of 
Midwives, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse 
specialist; and 
(B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal 
health. 
(3) MATERNAL MORTALITY.—The term ‘‘mater-
nal mortality’’ means a death occurring during or 
within a one-year period after pregnancy, caused by 
pregnancy-related or childbirth complications, in-
cluding a suicide, overdose, or other death resulting 
from a mental health or substance use disorder at-
tributed to or aggravated by pregnancy-related or 
childbirth complications. 
(4) PERINATAL HEALTH WORKER.—The term 
‘‘perinatal health worker’’ means a doula, commu-
nity health worker, peer supporter, breastfeeding 
and lactation educator or counselor, nutritionist or 
dietitian, childbirth educator, social worker, home 
visitor, language interpreter, or navigator. 
(5) POSTPARTUM AND POSTPARTUM PERIOD.— 
The terms ‘‘postpartum’’ and ‘‘postpartum period’’ 
refer to the 1-year period beginning on the last day 
of the pregnancy of an individual. 
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(6) 
PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED
DEATH.—The 
term ‘‘pregnancy-associated death’’ means a death of 
a pregnant or postpartum individual, by any cause, 
that occurs during, or within 1 year following, the 
individual’s pregnancy, regardless of the outcome, 
duration, or site of the pregnancy. 
(7) PREGNANCY-RELATED
DEATH.—The term 
‘‘pregnancy-related death’’ means a death of a preg-
nant or postpartum individual that occurs during, or 
within 1 year following, the individual’s pregnancy, 
from a pregnancy complication, a chain of events 
initiated by pregnancy, or the aggravation of an un-
related condition by the physiologic effects of preg-
nancy. 
(8) RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP.— 
The term ‘‘racial and ethnic minority group’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u– 
6(g)(1)). 
(9) SEVERE MATERNAL MORBIDITY.—The term 
‘‘severe maternal morbidity’’ means a health condi-
tion, including mental health conditions and sub-
stance use disorders, attributed to or aggravated by 
pregnancy or childbirth that results in significant 
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short-term or long-term consequences to the health 
of the individual who was pregnant. 
(10) SOCIAL
DETERMINANTS
OF
MATERNAL 
HEALTH DEFINED.—The term ‘‘social determinants 
of maternal health’’ means non-clinical factors that 
impact maternal health outcomes, including— 
(A) economic factors, which may include 
poverty, employment, food security, support for 
and access to lactation and other infant feeding 
options, housing stability, and related factors; 
(B) neighborhood factors, which may in-
clude quality of housing, access to transpor-
tation, access to child care, availability of 
healthy foods and nutrition counseling, avail-
ability of clean water, air and water quality, 
ambient temperatures, neighborhood crime and 
violence, access to broadband, and related fac-
tors; 
(C) social and community factors, which 
may include systemic racism, gender discrimi-
nation or discrimination based on other pro-
tected classes, workplace conditions, incarcer-
ation, and related factors; 
(D) household factors, which may include 
ability to conduct lead testing and abatement, 
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(7) The Assistant Secretary for the Administra-
tion for Children and Families (or a designee there-
of). 
(8) The Administrator of the Centers for Medi-
care & Medicaid Services (or a designee thereof). 
(9) The Director of the Indian Health Service 
(or a designee thereof). 
(10) The Director of the National Institutes of 
Health (or a designee thereof). 
(11) The Administrator of the Health Re-
sources and Services Administration (or a designee 
thereof). 
(12) The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minor-
ity Health of the Department of Health and Human 
Services (or a designee thereof). 
(13) The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Wom-
en’s Health of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (or a designee thereof). 
(14) The Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (or a designee thereof). 
(15) The Director of the Office on Violence 
Against Women at the Department of Justice (or a 
designee thereof). 
(c) APPOINTED MEMBERS.—In addition to the ex 
officio members of the Task Force, the Secretary of 
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Health and Human Services shall appoint the following 
members of the Task Force: 
(1) At least two representatives of patients, to 
include— 
(A) a representative of patients who have 
suffered from severe maternal morbidity; or 
(B) a representative of patients who is a 
family member of an individual who suffered a 
pregnancy-related death. 
(2) At least two leaders of community-based or-
ganizations that address maternal mortality and se-
vere maternal morbidity with a specific focus on ra-
cial and ethnic disparities. In appointing such lead-
ers under this paragraph, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services shall give priority to individ-
uals who are leaders of organizations led by individ-
uals from racial and ethnic minority groups. 
(3) At least two perinatal health workers. 
(4) A professionally diverse panel of maternity 
care providers. 
(d) CHAIR.—The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall select the chair of the Task Force from 
among the members of the Task Force. 
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(e) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit 
to Congress a report on— 
(1) the strategy developed under subsection (a); 
(2) recommendations on funding amounts with 
respect to implementing such strategy; 
(3) recommendations for how to expand cov-
erage of social services to address social deter-
minants of maternal health under Medicaid managed 
care organizations and State Medicaid programs. 
(f) TERMINATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advi-
sory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
the Task Force with respect to termination. 
SEC. 102. HOUSING FOR MOMS GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development shall establish a Housing for Moms 
grant program under this section to make grants to eligi-
ble entities to increase access to safe, stable, affordable, 
and adequate housing for pregnant and postpartum indi-
viduals and their families. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may 
provide. 
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(c) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity 
that— 
(1) is a community-based organization or will 
partner with a community-based organization to im-
plement initiatives to increase access to safe, stable, 
affordable, and adequate housing for pregnant and 
postpartum individuals and their families; 
(2) is operating in an area with high rates of 
adverse maternal health outcomes or significant ra-
cial or ethnic disparities in maternal health out-
comes, to the extent such data are available; and 
(3) is operating in an area with a high poverty 
rate or significant number of individuals who lack 
consistent access to safe, stable, affordable, and ade-
quate housing. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this section shall use funds under the grant 
for the purposes of— 
(1) identifying and conducting outreach to 
pregnant and postpartum individuals who are low-in-
come and lack consistent access to safe, stable, af-
fordable, and adequate housing; 
(2) providing safe, stable, affordable, and ade-
quate housing options to such individuals; 
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(3) connecting such individuals with local orga-
nizations offering safe, stable, affordable, and ade-
quate housing options; 
(4) providing application assistance to such in-
dividuals seeking to enroll in programs offering safe, 
stable, affordable, and adequate housing options; 
(5) providing direct financial assistance to such 
individuals for the purposes of maintaining safe, sta-
ble, and adequate housing for the duration of the in-
dividual’s pregnancy and postpartum periods; and 
(6) working with relevant stakeholders to en-
sure that local housing and homeless shelter infra-
structure is supportive to pregnant and postpartum 
individuals, including through— 
(A) health-promoting housing codes; 
(B) enforcement of housing codes; 
(C) proactive rental inspection programs; 
(D) code enforcement officer training; and 
(E) partnerships between regional offices 
of the Department of Housing and Urban De-
velopment and community-based organizations 
to ensure housing laws are understood and vio-
lations are discovered. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
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(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The Secretary shall 
require each eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section to annually submit to the Secretary and 
make publicly available a report on the status of ac-
tivities conducted using the grant. 
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of 
each fiscal year in which grants are made under this 
section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress 
and make publicly available a report that— 
(A) summarizes the reports received under 
paragraph (1); 
(B) evaluates the effectiveness of grants 
awarded under this section in increasing access 
to safe, stable, affordable, and adequate hous-
ing for pregnant and postpartum individuals 
and their families; and 
(C) makes recommendations with respect 
to ensuring activities described subsection (d) 
continue after grant amounts made available 
under this section are expended. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a community-based organization; 
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(B) a State or local governmental entity, 
including a State or local public health depart-
ment; 
(C) an Indian tribe or tribal organization 
(as such terms are defined in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education As-
sistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or 
(D) an Urban Indian organization (as such 
term is defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 
1603)). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022, which shall remain 
available until expended. 
SEC. 103. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. 
(a) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a 
report containing— 
(1) an assessment of transportation barriers 
preventing individuals from attending prenatal and 
postpartum appointments, accessing maternal health 
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care services, or accessing services and resources re-
lated to social determinants maternal of health; 
(2) recommendations on how to overcome the 
barriers assessed under paragraph (1); and 
(3) an assessment of transportation safety risks 
for pregnant individuals and recommendations on 
how to mitigate such risks. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary shall give special consideration to solu-
tions for— 
(1) pregnant and postpartum individuals living 
in a health professional shortage area designated 
under section 332 of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254e); 
(2) pregnant and postpartum individuals living 
in areas with high maternal mortality or severe mor-
bidity rates or significant racial or ethnic disparities 
in maternal health outcomes; or 
(3) pregnant and postpartum individuals with a 
disability that impacts mobility. 
SEC. 104. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
(a) SPECIAL
SUPPLEMENTAL
NUTRITION
PRO-
GRAM.— 
(1) EXTENSION
OF
POSTPARTUM
PERIOD.— 
Section 17(b)(10) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
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1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786(b)(10)) is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘six months’’ and inserting ‘‘24 months’’. 
(2) EXTENSION OF BREASTFEEDING PERIOD.— 
Section 17(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the Child Nutrition Act of 
1966 (7 U.S.C. 1431(d)(3)(A)(ii)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘1 year’’ and inserting ‘‘24 months’’. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report that includes an 
evaluation of the effect of each of the amendments 
made by this subsection on— 
(A) maternal and infant health outcomes, 
including racial and ethnic disparities with re-
spect to such outcomes; 
(B) breastfeeding rates among postpartum 
individuals; 
(C) qualitative evaluations of family experi-
ences under the special supplemental nutrition 
program under section 17 of the Child Nutri-
tion Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and 
(D) other relevant information as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM
FOR HEALTHY FOOD
AND 
CLEAN WATER FOR PREGNANT AND POSTPARTUM INDI-
VIDUALS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, 
to eligible entities to carry out the activities de-
scribed in paragraph (4). 
(2) APPLICATION.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this subsection, an eligible entity shall submit 
to the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to an eli-
gible entity that— 
(A) is, or will partner with, a community- 
based organization; and 
(B) is operating in an area with high rates 
of— 
(i) adverse maternal health outcomes; 
or 
(ii) significant racial or ethnic dispari-
ties in maternal health outcomes. 
(4) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity shall 
use grant funds awarded under this subsection to 
deliver healthy food, infant formula, clean water, or 
diapers to pregnant and postpartum individuals lo-
cated in areas that are food deserts, as determined 
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by the Secretary using data from the Food Access 
Research Atlas of the Department of Agriculture. 
(5) REPORTS.— 
(A) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—Not later than 1 
year after an eligible entity first receives a 
grant under this subsection, and annually there-
after, an eligible entity shall submit to the Sec-
retary a report on the status of activities con-
ducted using the grant, which shall contain 
such information as the Secretary may require. 
(B) SECRETARY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 
years after the date on which the first 
grant is awarded under this subsection, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a re-
port that includes— 
(I) a summary of the reports 
submitted under subparagraph (A); 
(II) an assessment of the extent 
to which food distributed through the 
grant program was purchased from 
local and regional food systems; 
(III) an evaluation of the effect 
of the grant program under this sub-
section on maternal and infant health 
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outcomes, including racial and ethnic 
disparities with respect to such out-
comes; and 
(IV) recommendations with re-
spect to ensuring the activities de-
scribed in paragraph (4) continue 
after the grant period funding such 
activities expires. 
(ii) 
PUBLICATION.—The 
Secretary 
shall make the report submitted under 
clause (i) publicly available on the website 
of the Department of Agriculture. 
(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 
to carry out this subsection for fiscal years 2022 
through 2024. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a community-based organization; 
(B) a State or local governmental entity, 
including a State or local public health depart-
ment; 
(C) an Indian tribe or tribal organization 
(as such terms are defined in section 4 of the 
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Indian Self-Determination and Education As-
sistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); or 
(D) an Urban Indian organization (as such 
term is defined in section 4 of the Indian 
Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 
1603)). 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 105. ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THROUGH NATIONAL 
ACADEMIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency shall seek to enter an agree-
ment, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, with the National Academies of Sciences, En-
gineering, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘National Academies’’) under which the National Acad-
emies agree to conduct a study on the impacts of water 
and air quality, exposure to extreme temperatures, envi-
ronmental chemicals, environmental risks in the workplace 
and the home, and pollution levels, on maternal and infant 
health outcomes. 
(b) STUDY REQUIREMENTS.—The agreement under 
subsection (a) shall direct the National Academies to make 
recommendations for— 
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(1) improving environmental conditions to im-
prove maternal and infant health outcomes; and 
(2) reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic 
disparities in such outcomes. 
(c) REPORT.—The agreement under subsection (a) 
shall direct the National Academies to complete the study 
under this section, and transmit to the Congress and make 
publicly available a report on the results of the study, not 
later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
SEC. 106. CHILD CARE ACCESS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall award grants to eligible organizations to 
provide pregnant and postpartum individuals with free 
and accessible drop-in child care services during prenatal 
and postpartum appointments. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
(c) ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, an organization shall be an 
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organization that provides child care services and 
can carry out programs providing pregnant and 
postpartum individuals with free and accessible 
drop-in child care services during prenatal and 
postpartum appointments. 
(2) PRIORITIZATION.—In selecting grant recipi-
ents under this section, the Secretary shall give pri-
ority to eligible organizations that operate in an area 
with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes 
or significant racial or ethnic disparities in maternal 
health outcomes, to the extent such data are avail-
able. 
(d) TIMING.—The Secretary shall commence the 
grant program under subsection (a) not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
(1) GRANTEES.—Each recipient of a grant 
under this section shall annually submit to the Sec-
retary and make publicly available a report on the 
status of activities conducted using the grant. Each 
such report shall include— 
(A) an analysis of the effect of the funded 
program on prenatal and postpartum appoint-
ment attendance rates; 
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(B) summaries of qualitative assessments 
of the funded program from— 
(i) pregnant and postpartum individ-
uals participating in the program; and 
(ii) the families of such individuals; 
and 
(C) such additional information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of fis-
cal year 2024, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Congress and make publicly available a report con-
taining the following: 
(A) A summary of the reports under para-
graph (1). 
(B) An assessment of the effects, if any, of 
the funded programs on maternal health out-
comes, with a specific focus on racial and ethnic 
disparities in such outcomes. 
(C) A description of actions the Secretary 
can 
take 
to 
ensure 
that 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals eligible for medical as-
sistance under a State plan under title XIX of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1936 et 
seq.) have access to free and accessible drop-in 
child 
care 
services 
during 
prenatal 
and 
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postpartum appointments, including identifica-
tion of the funding necessary to carry out such 
actions. 
(f) DROP-IN CHILD CARE SERVICES DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘drop-in child care services’’ means 
child care and early childhood education services that 
are— 
(1) delivered at a facility that meets the re-
quirements of all applicable laws and regulations of 
the State or local government in which it is located, 
including the licensing of the facility as a child care 
facility; and 
(2) provided in single encounters without re-
quiring full-time enrollment of a person in a child 
care program. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 
2024. 
SEC. 107. GRANTS TO LOCAL ENTITIES ADDRESSING SO-
CIAL 
DETERMINANTS 
OF 
MATERNAL 
HEALTH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall award grants to eligible entities to— 
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(1) address social determinants of maternal 
health for pregnant and postpartum individuals; and 
(2) eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in 
maternal health outcomes. 
(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this subsection an eligible entity shall submit to the 
Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may 
provide. 
(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding grants under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible 
entity that— 
(1) is, or will partner with, a community-based 
organization to carrying out the activities under sub-
section (d); 
(2) is operating in an area with high rates of 
adverse maternal health outcomes or significant ra-
cial or ethnic disparities in maternal health out-
comes; and 
(3) is operating in an area with a high poverty 
rate. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—An eligible entity that receives a 
grant under this section may— 
(1) hire and retain staff; 
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(2) develop and distribute a list of available re-
sources with respect to social service programs in a 
community; 
(3) establish a resource center that provides 
multiple social service programs in a single location; 
(4) offer programs and resources in the commu-
nities in which the respective eligible entities are lo-
cated to address social determinants of health for 
pregnant and postpartum individuals; and 
(5) consult with such pregnant and postpartum 
individuals to conduct an assessment of the activities 
under this subsection. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide to grant recipients under this section technical as-
sistance to plan for sustaining programs to address social 
determinants of maternal health among pregnant and 
postpartum individuals after the period of the grant. 
(f) REPORTING.— 
(1) GRANTEES.—Not later than 1 year after an 
eligible entity first receives a grant under this sec-
tion, and annually thereafter, an eligible entity shall 
submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, 
a report on the status of activities conducted using 
the grant. Each such report shall include data on 
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the effects of such activities, disaggregated by race, 
ethnicity, gender, and other relevant factors. 
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of fis-
cal year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report that includes— 
(A) a summary of the reports under para-
graph (1); and 
(B) recommendations for— 
(i) improving maternal health out-
comes; and 
(ii) reducing or eliminating racial and 
ethnic disparities in maternal health out-
comes. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
TITLE II—HONORING KIRA 
JOHNSON 
SEC. 201. INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZA-
TIONS 
TO 
IMPROVE 
BLACK 
MATERNAL 
HEALTH OUTCOMES. 
(a) AWARDS.—Following the 1-year period described 
in subsection (c), the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 
shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or ex-
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pand programs to prevent maternal mortality and severe 
maternal 
morbidity 
among 
Black 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to seek a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be a community-based 
organization offering programs and resources aligned with 
evidence-based practices for improving maternal health 
outcomes for Black pregnant and postpartum individuals. 
(c) OUTREACH
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PE-
RIOD.—During the 1-year period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct outreach to encourage eligible enti-
ties to apply for grants under this section; and 
(2) provide technical assistance to eligible enti-
ties on best practices for applying for grants under 
this section. 
(d) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) OUTREACH.—In conducting outreach under 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall give special con-
sideration to eligible entities that— 
(A) are based in, and provide support for, 
communities with high rates of adverse mater-
nal health outcomes or significant racial and 
ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, 
to the extent such data are available; 
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(B) are led by Black women; and 
(C) offer programs and resources that are 
aligned with evidence-based practices for im-
proving maternal health outcomes for Black 
pregnant and postpartum individuals. 
(2) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give special consideration 
to eligible entities that— 
(A) are described in subparagraphs (A), 
(B), and (C) of paragraph (1); 
(B) offer programs and resources designed 
in consultation with and intended for Black 
pregnant and postpartum individuals; and 
(C) offer programs and resources in the 
communities in which the respective eligible en-
tities are located that— 
(i) promote maternal mental health 
and maternal substance use disorder treat-
ments and supports that are aligned with 
evidence-based practices for improving ma-
ternal mental and behavioral health out-
comes for Black pregnant and postpartum 
individuals; 
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(ii) address social determinants of ma-
ternal health for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals; 
(iii) promote evidence-based health lit-
eracy and pregnancy, childbirth, and par-
enting 
education 
for 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals; 
(iv) provide support from perinatal 
health 
workers 
to 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals; 
(v) provide culturally congruent train-
ing to perinatal health workers; 
(vi) conduct or support research on 
maternal health issues disproportionately 
impacting Black pregnant and postpartum 
individuals; 
(vii) provide support to family mem-
bers of individuals who suffered a preg-
nancy-associated death or pregnancy-re-
lated death; 
(viii) operate midwifery practices that 
provide 
culturally 
congruent 
maternal 
health care and support, including for the 
purposes of— 
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(I) supporting additional edu-
cation, training, and certification pro-
grams, including support for distance 
learning; 
(II) providing financial support 
to current and future midwives to ad-
dress education costs, debts, and 
other needs; 
(III) clinical site investments; 
(IV) supporting preceptor devel-
opment trainings; 
(V) expanding the midwifery 
practice; or 
(VI) related needs identified by 
the midwifery practice and described 
in the practice’s application; or 
(ix) have developed other programs 
and resources that address community-spe-
cific needs for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals and are aligned with evidence- 
based practices for improving maternal 
health outcomes for Black pregnant and 
postpartum individuals. 
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(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide to grant recipients under this section technical as-
sistance on— 
(1) capacity building to establish or expand pro-
grams to prevent adverse maternal health outcomes 
among Black pregnant and postpartum individuals; 
(2) best practices in data collection, measure-
ment, evaluation, and reporting; and 
(3) planning for sustaining programs to prevent 
maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity 
among Black pregnant and postpartum individuals 
after the period of the grant. 
(f) EVALUATION.—Not later than the end of fiscal 
year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an 
evaluation of the grant program under this section that— 
(1) assesses the effectiveness of outreach efforts 
during the application process in diversifying the 
pool of grant recipients; 
(2) makes recommendations for future outreach 
efforts to diversify the pool of grant recipients for 
Department of Health and Human Services grant 
programs and funding opportunities related to ma-
ternal health; 
(3) assesses the effectiveness of programs fund-
ed by grants under this section in improving mater-
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nal health outcomes for Black pregnant and 
postpartum individuals, to the extent practicable; 
and 
(4) makes recommendations for future Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services grant programs 
and funding opportunities that deliver funding to 
community-based organizations that provide pro-
grams and resources that are aligned with evidence- 
based practices for improving maternal health out-
comes for Black pregnant and postpartum individ-
uals. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
SEC. 202. INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZA-
TIONS TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH OUT-
COMES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. 
(a) AWARDS.—Following the 1-year period described 
in subsection (c), the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) 
shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or ex-
pand programs to prevent maternal mortality and severe 
maternal morbidity among underserved groups. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to seek a grant 
under this section, an entity shall be a community-based 
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organization offering programs and resources aligned with 
evidence-based practices for improving maternal health 
outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals. 
(c) OUTREACH
AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PE-
RIOD.—During the 1-year period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— 
(1) conduct outreach to encourage eligible enti-
ties to apply for grants under this section; and 
(2) provide technical assistance to eligible enti-
ties on best practices for applying for grants under 
this section. 
(d) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.— 
(1) OUTREACH.—In conducting outreach under 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall give special con-
sideration to eligible entities that— 
(A) are based in, and provide support for, 
communities with high rates of adverse mater-
nal health outcomes or significant racial and 
ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes, 
to the extent such data are available; 
(B) are led by individuals from racially, 
ethnically, and geographically diverse back-
grounds; and 
(C) offer programs and resources that are 
aligned with evidence-based practices for im-
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proving maternal health outcomes for pregnant 
and postpartum individuals. 
(2) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall give special consideration 
to eligible entities that— 
(A) are described in subparagraphs (A), 
(B), and (C) of paragraph (1); 
(B) offer programs and resources designed 
in consultation with and intended for pregnant 
and postpartum individuals from underserved 
groups; and 
(C) offer programs and resources in the 
communities in which the respective eligible en-
tities are located that— 
(i) promote maternal mental health 
and maternal substance use disorder treat-
ments and support that are aligned with 
evidence-based practices for improving ma-
ternal mental and behavioral health out-
comes for pregnant and postpartum indi-
viduals; 
(ii) address social determinants of ma-
ternal health for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals; 
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(iii) promote evidence-based health lit-
eracy and pregnancy, childbirth, and par-
enting 
education 
for 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals; 
(iv) provide support from perinatal 
health 
workers 
to 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals; 
(v) provide culturally congruent train-
ing to perinatal health workers; 
(vi) conduct or support research on 
maternal health outcomes and disparities; 
(vii) provide support to family mem-
bers of individuals who suffered a preg-
nancy-associated death or pregnancy-re-
lated death; 
(viii) operate midwifery practices that 
provide 
culturally 
congruent 
maternal 
health care and support, including for the 
purposes of— 
(I) supporting additional edu-
cation, training, and certification pro-
grams, including support for distance 
learning; 
(II) providing financial support 
to current and future midwives to ad-
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dress education costs, debts, and 
other needs; 
(III) clinical site investments; 
(IV) supporting preceptor devel-
opment trainings; 
(V) expanding the midwifery 
practice; or 
(VI) related needs identified by 
the midwifery practice and described 
in the practice’s application; or 
(ix) have developed other programs 
and resources that address community-spe-
cific needs for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals and are aligned with evidence- 
based practices for improving maternal 
health 
outcomes 
for 
pregnant 
and 
postpartum individuals. 
(e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide to grant recipients under this section technical as-
sistance on— 
(1) capacity building to establish or expand pro-
grams to prevent adverse maternal health outcomes 
among pregnant and postpartum individuals from 
underserved groups; 
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(2) best practices in data collection, measure-
ment, evaluation, and reporting; and 
(3) planning for sustaining programs to prevent 
maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity 
among pregnant and postpartum individuals from 
underserved groups after the period of the grant. 
(f) EVALUATION.—Not later than the end of fiscal 
year 2026, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an 
evaluation of the grant program under this section that— 
(1) assesses the effectiveness of outreach efforts 
during the application process in diversifying the 
pool of grant recipients; 
(2) makes recommendations for future outreach 
efforts to diversify the pool of grant recipients for 
Department of Health and Human Services grant 
programs and funding opportunities related to ma-
ternal health; 
(3) assesses the effectiveness of programs fund-
ed by grants under this section in improving mater-
nal health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum 
individuals from underserved groups, to the extent 
practicable; and 
(4) makes recommendations for future Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services grant programs 
and funding opportunities that deliver funding to 
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community-based organizations that provide pro-
grams and resources that are aligned with evidence- 
based practices for improving maternal health out-
comes for pregnant and postpartum individuals. 
(g) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘under-
served groups’’ refers to pregnant and postpartum individ-
uals— 
(1) from racial and ethnic minority groups (as 
such term is defined in section 1707(g)(1) of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u– 
6(g)(1))); 
(2) whose household income is equal to or less 
than 150 percent of the Federal poverty line; 
(3) who live in health professional shortage 
areas (as such term is defined in section 332 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1))); 
(4) who live in counties with no hospital offer-
ing obstetric care, no birth center, and no obstetric 
provider; or 
(5) who live in counties with a level of vulner-
ability of moderate-to-high or higher, according to 
the Social Vulnerability Index of the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention. 
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(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 
SEC. 203. RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE TRAINING FOR 
ALL EMPLOYEES IN MATERNITY CARE SET-
TINGS. 
Part B of title VII of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 293 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 742. RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE TRAINING FOR 
ALL EMPLOYEES IN MATERNITY CARE SET-
TINGS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants for 
programs to reduce and prevent bias, racism, and dis-
crimination in maternity care settings and to advance re-
spectful, culturally congruent, trauma-informed care. 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—In awarding grants 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give special con-
sideration to applications for programs that would— 
‘‘(1) apply to all maternity care providers and 
any employees who interact with pregnant and 
postpartum individuals in the provider setting, in-
cluding front desk employees, sonographers, sched-
ulers, health care professionals, hospital or health 
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system administrators, security staff, and other em-
ployees; 
‘‘(2) emphasize periodic, as opposed to one- 
time, trainings for all birthing professionals and em-
ployees described in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) address implicit bias, racism, and cultural 
humility; 
‘‘(4) be delivered in ongoing education settings 
for providers maintaining their licenses, with a pref-
erence for trainings that provide continuing edu-
cation units; 
‘‘(5) include trauma-informed care best prac-
tices and an emphasis on shared decision making be-
tween providers and patients; 
‘‘(6) include antiracism training and programs; 
‘‘(7) be delivered in undergraduate programs 
that funnel into health professions schools; 
‘‘(8) be delivered in settings that apply to pro-
viders of the special supplemental nutrition program 
for women, infants, and children under section 17 of 
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966; 
‘‘(9) integrate bias training in obstetric emer-
gency simulation trainings or related trainings; 
‘‘(10) include training for emergency depart-
ment employees and emergency medical technicians 
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on recognizing warning signs for severe pregnancy- 
related complications; 
‘‘(11) offer training to all maternity care pro-
viders on the value of racially, ethnically, and profes-
sionally diverse maternity care teams to provide cul-
turally congruent care; or 
‘‘(12) be based on one or more programs de-
signed by a historically Black college or university or 
other minority-serving institution. 
‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under sub-
section (a), an entity shall submit an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may require. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING.—Each recipient of a grant under 
this section shall annually submit to the Secretary a report 
on the status of activities conducted using the grant, in-
cluding, as applicable, a description of the impact of train-
ing provided through the grant on patient outcomes and 
patient experience for pregnant and postpartum individ-
uals from racial and ethnic minority groups and their fam-
ilies. 
‘‘(e) BEST PRACTICES.—Based on the annual reports 
submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary— 
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‘‘(1) shall produce an annual report on the find-
ings resulting from programs funded through this 
section; 
‘‘(2) shall disseminate such report to all recipi-
ents of grants under this section and to the public; 
and 
‘‘(3) may include in such report findings on 
best practices for improving patient outcomes and 
patient experience for pregnant and postpartum in-
dividuals from racial and ethnic minority groups and 
their families in maternity care settings. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘postpartum’ means the one-year 
period beginning on the last day of an individual’s 
pregnancy. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘culturally congruent’ means in 
agreement with the preferred cultural values, beliefs, 
world view, language, and practices of the health 
care consumer and other stakeholders. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘racial and ethnic minority 
group’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1707(g)(1). 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
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