(2) A description of actions the Secretary can 
take to ensure that pregnant and postpartum women 
eligible for medical assistance under a State plan 
under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1936 et seq.) have access to free drop-in 
child care services during prenatal and postpartum 
appointments, including identification 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 
$1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2023. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 108. GRANTS TO STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL PUBLIC 
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ADDRESSING SOCIAL 
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH FOR PREGNANT 
AND POSTPARTUM WOMEN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall award grants to State, local, and Tribal 
public health departments to address social determinants 
of maternal health in order to reduce or eliminate racial 
and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—A public health department re-
ceiving a grant under this section may use funds received 
through the grant to— 
(1) build capacity and hire staff to coordinate 
efforts of the public health department to address 
social determinants of maternal health; 
(2) develop, and provide for distribution of, re-
source lists of available social services for women in 
the prenatal and postpartum periods, which social 
services may include— 
(A) transportation vouchers; 
(B) housing supports; 
(C) child care access; 
(D) healthy food access; 
(E) nutrition counseling; 
(F) lactation supports; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(G) lead testing and abatement; 
(H) clean water; 
(I) infant formula; 
(J) maternal mental and behavioral health 
care services; 
(K) wellness and stress management pro-
grams; and 
(L) other social services as determined by 
the public health department; 
(3) in consultation with local stakeholders, es-
tablish or designate a ‘‘one-stop’’ resource center 
that provides coordinated social services in a single 
location for women in the prenatal or postpartum 
period; or 
(4) directly address specific social determinant 
needs for the community that are related to mater-
nal health as identified by the public health depart-
ment, such as— 
(A) transportation; 
(B) housing; 
(C) child care; 
(D) healthy foods; 
(E) infant formula; 
(F) nutrition counseling; 
(G) lactation supports; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(H) lead testing and abatement; 
(I) air and water quality; 
(J) wellness and stress management pro-
grams; and 
(K) other social determinants as deter-
mined by the public health department. 
(c) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—In awarding grants 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give special con-
sideration to State, local, and Tribal public health depart-
ments that— 
(1) propose to use the grants to reduce or end 
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality 
and severe morbidity rates; and 
(2) operate in areas with high rates of— 
(A) maternal mortality and severe mor-
bidity; or 
(B) significant racial and ethnic disparities 
in maternal mortality and severe morbidity 
rates. 
(d) GUIDANCE ON STRATEGIES.—In carrying out this 
section, the Secretary shall provide guidance to grantees 
on strategies for long-term viability of programs funded 
through this section after such funding ends. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(1) BY GRANTEES.—As a condition on receipt 
of a grant under this section, a grantee shall agree 
to— 
(A) evaluate the activities funded through 
the grant with respect to— 
(i) maternal health outcomes with a 
specific focus on racial and ethnic dispari-
ties; 
(ii) the subjective assessment of such 
activities by the beneficiaries of such ac-
tivities, including mothers and their fami-
lies; and 
(iii) cost effectiveness and return on 
investment; and 
(B) not later than 180 days after the end 
of the period of the grant, submit a report on 
the results of such evaluation to the Secretary. 
(2) BY SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of 
fiscal year 2026, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to the Congress— 
(A) summarizing the evaluations submitted 
under paragraph (1); and 
(B) making recommendations for improv-
ing maternal health and reducing or eliminating 
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
outcomes, based on the results of grants under 
this section. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 
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’’), 
acting through the Administrator of the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, shall award grants to eligible 
entities to establish or expand programs to prevent mater-
nal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among Black 
women. 
(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 women. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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— 
(i) high rates of adverse maternal 
health outcomes; and 
(ii) significant racial and ethnic dis-
parities in maternal health outcomes; 
(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 
women. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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 
women; 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 that are aligned with evidence-based 
practices for improving maternal mental 
health outcomes for Black women; 
(ii) address social determinants of 
health for women in the prenatal and 
postpartum periods, including— 
(I) housing; 
(II) transportation; 
(III) nutrition counseling; 
(IV) healthy foods; 
(V) lactation support; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(VI) lead abatement and other 
efforts to improve air and water qual-
ity; 
(VII) child care access; 
(VIII) car seat installation; 
(IX) wellness and stress manage-
ment programs; or 
(X) coordination across safety- 
net and social support services and 
programs; 
(iii) promote evidence-based health lit-
eracy and pregnancy, childbirth, and par-
enting education for women in the prenatal 
and postpartum periods; 
(iv) provide support from doulas and 
other perinatal health workers to women 
from pregnancy through the postpartum 
period; 
(v) provide culturally congruent train-
ing to perinatal health workers such as 
doulas, community health workers, peer 
supporters, certified lactation consultants, 
nutritionists and dietitians, social workers, 
home visitors, and navigators; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(vi) conduct or support research on 
Black maternal health issues; or 
(vii) have developed other programs 
and resources that address community-spe-
cific needs for women in the prenatal and 
postpartum periods and are aligned with 
evidence-based practices for improving ma-
ternal health outcomes for Black women. 
(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 women; 
(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 women 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; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(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; 
(3) assesses the effectiveness of programs fund-
ed by grants under this section in improving mater-
nal health outcomes for Black women; 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 to improve Black 
maternal health outcomes through programs and re-
sources that are aligned with evidence-based prac-
tices for improving maternal health outcomes for 
Black women. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 
SEC. 202. TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN MATERNITY 
CARE SETTINGS. 
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: 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 742. TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN MATERNITY 
CARE SETTINGS. 
‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants for 
programs to reduce and prevent bias, racism, and dis-
crimination in maternity care settings. 
‘‘(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 birthing professionals and any 
employees who interact with pregnant and postpar-
tum women in the provider setting, including front 
desk employees, sonographers, schedulers, health 
care professionals, hospital or health system admin-
istrators, and security staff; 
‘‘(2) emphasize periodic, as opposed to one- 
time, trainings for all birthing professionals and em-
ployees described in paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) address implicit bias and explicit bias; 
‘‘(4) be delivered in ongoing education settings 
for providers maintaining their licenses, with a pref-
erence for trainings that provide continuing edu-
cation units and continuing medical education; 
‘‘(5) include trauma-informed care best prac-
tices and an emphasis on shared decision making be-
tween providers and patients; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(6) include a service-learning component that 
sends providers to work in underserved communities 
to better understand patients’ lived experiences; 
‘‘(7) be delivered in undergraduate programs 
that funnel into medical schools, like biology and 
pre-medicine majors; 
‘‘(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; 
‘‘(10) 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, including doulas, community 
health workers, peer supporters, certified lactation 
consultants, nutritionists and dietitians, social work-
ers, home visitors, and navigators; or 
‘‘(11) be based on one or more programs de-
signed by a historically Black college or university. 
‘‘(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. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
‘‘(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 women of color and their families. 
‘‘(e) BEST PRACTICES.—Based on the annual reports 
submitted pursuant to subsection (d), the Secretary— 
‘‘(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 women of color and their fam-
ilies in maternity care settings. 
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘postpartum’ means the one-year 
period beginning on the last day of a woman’s preg-
nancy. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘culturally congruent’ means in 
agreement with the preferred cultural values, beliefs, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
worldview, and practices of the health care consumer 
and other stakeholders. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025.’’. 
SEC. 203. STUDY ON REDUCING AND PREVENTING BIAS, 
RACISM, AND DISCRIMINATION IN MATER-
NITY CARE SETTINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services shall seek to enter into an agreement, 
not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Na-
tional Academies’’) under which the National Academies 
agrees to— 
(1) conduct a study on the design and imple-
mentation of programs to reduce and prevent bias, 
racism, and discrimination in maternity care set-
tings; and 
(2) not later than 24 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, complete the study and trans-
mit a report on the results of the study to the Con-
gress. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(b) POSSIBLE TOPICS.—The agreement entered into 
pursuant to subsection (a) may provide for the study of 
any of the following: 
(1) The development of a scorecard for pro-
grams designed to reduce and prevent bias, racism, 
and discrimination in maternity care settings to as-
sess the effectiveness of such programs in improving 
patient outcomes and patient experience for women 
of color and their families. 
(2) Determination of the types of training to re-
duce and prevent bias, racism, and discrimination in 
maternity care settings that are demonstrated to im-
prove patient outcomes or patient experience for 
women of color and their families. 
SEC. 204. RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE COMPLIANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall award grants to accredited hospitals, health 
systems, and other maternity care delivery settings to es-
tablish within one or more hospitals or other birth settings 
a respectful maternity care compliance office. 
(b) OFFICE REQUIREMENTS.—A respectful maternity 
care compliance office funded through a grant under this 
section shall— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(1) institutionalize mechanisms to allow pa-
tients receiving maternity care services, the families 
of such patients, or doulas or other perinatal work-
ers supporting such patients to report instances of 
disrespect or evidence of bias on the basis of race, 
ethnicity, or another protected class; 
(2) 
institutionalize 
response 
mechanisms 
through which representatives of the office can di-
rectly follow up with the patient, if possible, and the 
patient’s family in a timely manner; 
(3) prepare and make publicly available a 
hospital- or health system-wide strategy to reduce 
bias on the basis of race, ethnicity, or another pro-
tected class in the delivery of maternity care that in-
cludes— 
(A) information on the training programs 
to reduce and prevent bias, racism, and dis-
crimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or 
another protected class for all employees in ma-
ternity care settings; and 
(B) the development of methods to rou-
tinely assess the extent to which bias, racism, 
or discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, 
or another protected class are present in the de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:17 Mar 27, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6142.IH
H6142
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS