I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6143 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal mental and 
behavioral health outcomes with a particular focus on outcomes for 
minority women, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2020 
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Ms. UNDERWOOD, Mr. KATKO, Ms. ADAMS, Ms. 
SCANLON, Mr. LONG, and Mr. MOULTON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal 
mental and behavioral health outcomes with a particular 
focus on outcomes for minority women, 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 ‘‘Moms Maternal and 
Behavioral Health Screening Access, Treatment, and Task 
Force to Expand Innovative Models to Reduce Maternal 
Mortality and Severe Maternal Morbidity Act of 2020’’ or 
the ‘‘Moms MATTER Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. INNOVATIVE MODELS TO REDUCE MATERNAL MOR-
TALITY. 
Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new part: 
‘‘PART W—INNOVATIVE MODELS TO REDUCE MA-
TERNAL MORTALITY AND SEVERE MATER-
NAL MORBIDITY 
‘‘SEC. 399OO. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this part: 
‘‘(1) The terms ‘postpartum’ and ‘postpartum 
period’ refer to the 1-year period beginning on the 
last day of the pregnancy. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘Task Force’ means the Mater-
nal Mental and Behavioral Health Task Force estab-
lished pursuant to section 399OO–1. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘behavioral health’ includes sub-
stance use disorder and other behavioral health con-
ditions. 
‘‘SEC. 399OO–1. MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL 
HEALTH TASK FORCE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall estab-
lish a task force, to be known as the Maternal Mental and 
Behavioral Health Task Force, to improve maternal men-
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tal and behavioral health outcomes with a particular focus 
on outcomes for minority women. 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
‘‘(1) COMPOSITION.—The Task Force shall be 
composed of no fewer than 20 members, to be ap-
pointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) CO-CHAIRS.—The Secretary shall des-
ignate 2 members of the Task Force to serve as the 
Co-chairs of the Task Force. 
‘‘(3) MEMBERS.— The Task Force shall include 
the following: 
‘‘(A) Maternal mental and behavioral 
health care specialists; maternity care providers; 
and researchers, government officials, and pol-
icy experts who specialize in women’s health, 
maternal mental and behavioral health, mater-
nal substance use disorder, or maternal mor-
tality and severe maternal morbidity. In select-
ing such members of the Task Force, the Sec-
retary shall give special consideration to individ-
uals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds 
or individuals with experience providing cul-
turally congruent maternity care in diverse 
communities. 
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‘‘(B) One or more patients who have suf-
fered from a diagnosed mental or behavioral 
health 
condition 
during 
the 
prenatal 
or 
postpartum period, or a spouse or family mem-
ber of such patient. 
‘‘(C) One or more representatives of a 
community-based organization that addresses 
adverse maternal health outcomes with a spe-
cific focus on racial and ethnic disparities in 
maternal health outcomes. In selecting such 
representatives, the Secretary shall give special 
consideration to organizations from commu-
nities with significant minority populations. 
‘‘(D) One or more perinatal health workers 
who provide non-clinical support to pregnant 
and postpartum women, such as a doula, com-
munity health worker, peer supporter, certified 
lactation consultant, nutritionist or dietitian, 
social worker, home visitor, or navigator. In se-
lecting such perinatal health workers, the Sec-
retary shall give special consideration to individ-
uals with experience working in communities 
with significant minority populations. 
‘‘(E) One or more representatives of rel-
evant patient advocacy organizations, with a 
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particular focus on organizations that address 
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health 
outcomes. 
‘‘(F) One or more representatives of rel-
evant health care provider organizations, with a 
particular focus on organizations that address 
racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health 
outcomes. 
‘‘(G) One or more leaders of a Federally 
qualified health center or rural health clinic (as 
such terms are defined in section 1861 of the 
Social Security Act). 
‘‘(H) One or more representatives of health 
insurers. 
‘‘(4) TIMING
OF
APPOINTMENTS.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
part, the Secretary shall appoint all members of the 
Task Force. 
‘‘(5) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Each member of the 
Task Force shall be appointed for the life of the 
Task Force. 
‘‘(B) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the 
Task Force— 
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‘‘(i) shall not affect the powers of the 
Task Force; and 
‘‘(ii) shall be filled in the same man-
ner as the original appointment. 
‘‘(6) NO
PAY.—Members of the Task Force 
(other than officers or employees of the United 
States) shall serve without pay. Members of the 
Task Force who are full-time officers or employees 
of the United States may not receive additional pay, 
allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 
the Task Force. 
‘‘(7) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—Members of the 
Task Force may be allowed travel expenses, includ-
ing per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates author-
ized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of 
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while 
away from their homes or regular places of business 
in the performance of services for the Task Force. 
‘‘(c) STAFF.—The Co-chairs of the Task Force may 
appoint and fix the pay of staff to the Task Force. 
‘‘(d) DETAILEES.—Any Federal Government em-
ployee may be detailed to the Task Force without reim-
bursement from the Task Force, and the detailee shall re-
tain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular 
employment without interruption. 
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