Midwives for MOMS Act of 2021
Bill: S.1697 | Sponsor: Sen. Lujan, Ben Ray (D-NM)
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act of 2021 or the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2021
This bill establishes grants within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for establishing or expanding midwifery programs at institutions of higher education and nursing schools. HRSA may prioritize funding for institutions that focus on increasing the number of midwife professionals from underrepresented groups and that promote practicing in areas with limited access to professional health care.

To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity 
 outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Midwives for Maximizing Optimal 
Maternity Services Act of 2021'' or the ``Midwives for MOMS Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by inserting after section 760 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294k) the 
following:

``SEC. 760A. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to institutions 
of higher education (as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of section 
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) for the following:
            ``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited midwifery 
        school or program.
            ``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited midwifery 
        school or program.
            ``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for 
        increasing the number of, qualified preceptors for training the 
        students of an accredited midwifery school or program.
    ``(b) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary give special consideration to any institution of 
higher education that--
            ``(1) agrees to prioritize students who plan to practice in 
        a health professional shortage area designated under section 
        332; and
            ``(2) demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic 
        minority representation in midwifery education.
    ``(c) Restriction.--The Secretary shall not provide any assistance 
under this section to be used with respect to a midwifery school or 
program within a school of nursing (as defined in section 801).
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out this section $15,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
        years 2022 through 2026.
            ``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
        out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
                    ``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
                    ``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
                    ``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
    (b) Definitions.--
            (1) Midwifery school or program.--Section 799B(1)(A) of the 
        Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(A)) is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ```midwifery school or program','' 
                before ``and `school of chiropractic''';
                    (B) by inserting ``a degree or certificate in 
                midwifery or an equivalent degree or certificate,'' 
                before ``and a degree of doctor of chiropractic or an 
                equivalent degree''; and
                    (C) by striking ``any such school'' and inserting 
                ``any such school or program''.
            (2) Accredited.--Section 799B(1)(E) of the Public Health 
        Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``or 
        a midwifery school or program,'' before ``or a graduate program 
        in health administration''.

SEC. 3. NURSE-MIDWIVES.

    Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting 
after section 811 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 296j) the following:

``SEC. 812. MIDWIFERY EXPANSION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to schools of 
nursing for the following:
            ``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited nurse-
        midwifery school or program.
            ``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited nurse-
        midwifery school or program.
            ``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for 
        increasing the numbers of, preceptors at clinical training 
        sites to precept students training to become certified nurse-
        midwives.
    ``(b) Special Considerations.--In awarding grants under subsection 
(a), the Secretary give special consideration to any school of nursing 
that--
            ``(1) agrees to prioritize students who choose to pursue an 
        advanced education degree in nurse-midwifery to practice in a 
        health professional shortage area designated under section 332; 
        and
            ``(2) demonstrates a focus on increasing racial and ethnic 
        minority representation in nurse-midwifery education.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the period of 
        fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
            ``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry 
        out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
                    ``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
                    ``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
                    ``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
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