I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3312 
To address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2023 
Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER (for herself, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Ms. UNDER-
WOOD) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To address maternal mental health conditions and substance 
use disorders, 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 Matter Act’’. 
SEC. 2. MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH EQUITY GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary 
for Mental Health and Substance Use, shall establish a 
program to award grants to eligible entities to address ma-
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ternal mental health conditions and substance use dis-
orders, with a focus on demographic groups with elevated 
rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, 
maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or 
childbirth outcomes. 
(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) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity 
that— 
(1) is, or will partner with, a community-based 
organization to address maternal mental health con-
ditions and substance use disorders described in sub-
section (a); 
(2) is operating in an area with elevated rates 
of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, 
maternal health 
disparities, 
or 
other 
adverse 
perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and 
(3) is operating in a health professional short-
age area designated under section 332 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e). 
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(d) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 
a grant under this section shall use the grant for the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Establishing or expanding maternity care 
programs to improve the integration of maternal 
mental health and behavioral health care services 
into primary care settings where pregnant individ-
uals regularly receive health care services. 
(2) Establishing or expanding group prenatal 
care programs or postpartum care programs. 
(3) Expanding existing programs that improve 
maternal mental and behavioral health during the 
prenatal and postpartum periods, with a focus on in-
dividuals from demographic groups with elevated 
rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal mor-
bidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse 
perinatal or childbirth outcomes. 
(4) Providing services and support for pregnant 
and postpartum individuals with maternal mental 
health conditions and substance use disorders, in-
cluding referrals to addiction treatment centers that 
offer evidence-based treatment options. 
(5) Addressing stigma associated with maternal 
mental health conditions and substance use dis-
orders, with a focus on individuals from demo-
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graphic groups with elevated rates of maternal mor-
tality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health 
disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth 
outcomes. 
(6) Raising awareness of warning signs of ma-
ternal mental health conditions and substance use 
disorders, with a focus on pregnant and postpartum 
individuals from demographic groups with elevated 
rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal mor-
bidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse 
perinatal or childbirth outcomes. 
(7) Establishing or expanding programs to pre-
vent suicide or self-harm among pregnant and 
postpartum individuals. 
(8) Offering evidence-aligned programs at free-
standing birth centers that provide maternal mental 
and behavioral health care education, treatments, 
and services, and other services for individuals 
throughout the prenatal and postpartum period. 
(9) Establishing or expanding programs to pro-
vide education and training to maternity care pro-
viders with respect to— 
(A) identifying potential warning signs for 
maternal mental health conditions or substance 
use disorders in pregnant and postpartum indi-
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viduals, with a focus on individuals from demo-
graphic groups with elevated rates of maternal 
mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal 
health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or 
childbirth outcomes; and 
(B) in the case where such providers iden-
tify such warning signs, offering referrals to 
mental and behavioral health care professionals. 
(10) Developing a website, or other source, that 
includes information on health care providers who 
treat maternal mental health conditions and sub-
stance use disorders. 
(11) Establishing or expanding programs in 
communities to improve coordination between mater-
nity care providers and mental and behavioral health 
care providers who treat maternal mental health 
conditions and substance use disorders, including 
through the use of toll-free hotlines. 
(12) Carrying out other programs aligned with 
evidence-based practices for addressing maternal 
mental health conditions and substance use dis-
orders for pregnant and postpartum individuals from 
demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal 
mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal 
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health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or 
childbirth outcomes. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
(1) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall sub-
mit annually to the Secretary, and make publicly 
available, a report on the activities conducted using 
funds received through a grant under this section. 
Such reports shall include quantitative and quali-
tative evaluations of such activities, including the ex-
perience of individuals who received health care 
through such grant. 
(2) SECRETARY.—Not later than the end of fis-
cal year 2027, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report that includes— 
(A) a summary of the reports received 
under paragraph (1); 
(B) an evaluation of the effectiveness of 
grants awarded under this section; 
(C) recommendations with respect to ex-
panding coverage of evidence-based screenings 
and treatments for maternal mental health con-
ditions and substance use disorders; and 
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(D) recommendations with respect to en-
suring activities described under subsection (d) 
continue after the end of a grant period. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) a community-based organization serv-
ing pregnant and postpartum individuals, in-
cluding such organizations serving individuals 
from demographic groups with elevated rates of 
maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, 
maternal health disparities, or other adverse 
perinatal or childbirth outcomes; 
(B) a nonprofit or patient advocacy organi-
zation with expertise in maternal mental and 
behavioral health; 
(C) a maternity care provider; 
(D) a mental or behavioral health care pro-
vider who treats maternal mental health condi-
tions or substance use disorders; 
(E) a State or local governmental entity, 
including a State or local public health depart-
ment; 
(F) 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)); and 
(G) 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) FREESTANDING BIRTH CENTER.—The term 
‘‘freestanding birth center’’ has the meaning given 
that term under section 1905(l) of the Social Secu-
rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)). 
(3) MATERNAL MORTALITY.—The term ‘‘mater-
nal mortality’’ means a death occurring during or 
within a 1-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) MATERNITY
CARE
PROVIDER.—The term 
‘‘maternity care provider’’ means a health care pro-
vider who— 
(A) is a physician, a physician assistant, a 
midwife who meets, at a minimum, the inter-
national definition of a midwife and global 
standards for midwifery education as estab-
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lished by the International Confederation of 
Midwives, an advanced practice registered 
nurse, or a lactation consultant certified by the 
International Board of Lactation Consultant 
Examiners; and 
(B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal 
health. 
(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. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(7) 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 
short-term or long-term consequences to the health 
of the individual who was pregnant. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2027. 
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SEC. 3. GRANTS TO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE MATERNAL 
MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE 
WORKFORCE. 
Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is amended 
by inserting after section 757 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
294f) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 758. MATERNAL MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 
CARE WORKFORCE GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants 
to entities to establish or expand programs described in 
subsection (b) to grow and diversify the maternal mental 
and behavioral health care workforce. 
‘‘(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Recipients of grants under 
this section shall use the grants to grow and diversify the 
maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce 
by— 
‘‘(1) establishing schools or programs that pro-
vide education and training to individuals seeking 
appropriate licensing or certification as mental or 
behavioral health care providers who will specialize 
in maternal mental health conditions or substance 
use disorders; or 
‘‘(2) expanding the capacity of existing schools 
or programs described in paragraph (1), for the pur-
poses of increasing the number of students enrolled 
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in such schools or programs, including by awarding 
scholarships for students. 
‘‘(c) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding grants under 
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any entity 
that— 
‘‘(1) has demonstrated a commitment to re-
cruiting and retaining students and faculty from ra-
cial and ethnic minority groups; 
‘‘(2) has developed a strategy to recruit and re-
tain a diverse pool of students into the maternal 
mental or behavioral health care workforce program 
or school supported by funds received through the 
grant, particularly from racial and ethnic minority 
groups and other underserved populations; 
‘‘(3) has developed a strategy to recruit and re-
tain students who plan to practice in a health pro-
fessional shortage area designated under section 
332; 
‘‘(4) has developed a strategy to recruit and re-
tain students who plan to practice in an area with 
significant maternal health disparities, to the extent 
practicable; and 
‘‘(5) includes in the standard curriculum for all 
students within the maternal mental or behavioral 
health care workforce program or school a bias, rac-
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ism, or discrimination training program that in-
cludes training on implicit bias and racism. 
‘‘(d) REPORTING.—As a condition on receipt of a 
grant under this section for a maternal mental or behav-
ioral health care workforce program or school, an entity 
shall agree to submit to the Secretary an annual report 
on the activities conducted through the grant, including— 
‘‘(1) the number and demographics of students 
participating in the program or school; 
‘‘(2) the extent to which students in the pro-
gram or school are entering careers in— 
‘‘(A) health professional shortage areas 
designated under section 332; and 
‘‘(B) areas with significant maternal health 
disparities, to the extent such data are avail-
able; and 
‘‘(3) whether the program or school has in-
cluded in the standard curriculum for all students a 
bias, racism, or discrimination training program that 
includes training on implicit bias and racism, and if 
so the effectiveness of such training program. 
‘‘(e) PERIOD OF GRANTS.—The period of a grant 
under this section shall be up to 5 years. 
‘‘(f) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application 
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at such time, in such manner, and containing such infor-
mation as the Secretary may require, including any infor-
mation necessary for prioritization under subsection (c). 
‘‘(g) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary shall 
provide, directly or by contract, technical assistance to en-
tities seeking or receiving a grant under this section on 
the development, use, evaluation, and postgrant period 
sustainability of the maternal mental or behavioral health 
care workforce programs or schools proposed to be, or 
being, established or expanded through the grant. 
‘‘(h) REPORT BY THE SECRETARY.—Not later than 
4 years after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress, and 
post on the internet website of the Department of Health 
and Human Services, a report on the effectiveness of the 
grant program under this section at— 
‘‘(1) recruiting students from racial and ethnic 
minority groups and other underserved populations; 
‘‘(2) increasing the number of mental or behav-
ioral health care providers specializing in maternal 
mental health conditions or substance use disorders 
from racial and ethnic minority groups and other 
underserved populations; 
‘‘(3) increasing the number of mental or behav-
ioral health care providers specializing in maternal 
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mental health conditions or substance use disorders 
working in health professional shortage areas des-
ignated under section 332; and 
‘‘(4) increasing the number of mental or behav-
ioral health care providers specializing in maternal 
mental health conditions or substance use disorders 
working in areas with significant maternal health 
disparities, to the extent such data are available. 
‘‘(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY GROUP.— 
The term ‘racial and ethnic minority group’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 1707(g)(1). 
‘‘(2) MENTAL OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE 
PROVIDER.—The term ‘mental or behavioral health 
care provider’ refers to a health care provider in the 
field of mental and behavioral health, including sub-
stance use disorders, acting in accordance with State 
law. 
‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—To 
carry out this section, there is authorized to be appro-
priated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
2028.’’. 
Æ 
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