Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2020

Bill: 116-hr-8027
Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Introduced: 2020-08-11 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Blood and blood diseases
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Child health
Community life and organization
Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Disability and health-based discrimination
Drug safety, medical device, and laboratory regulation
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Hospital care
Immunology and vaccination
Indian social and development programs
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Licensing and registrations
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Minority health
Racial and ethnic relations
Research administration and funding
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: 

Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2020

 
This bill addresses maternal health during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency by supporting data collection, development of COVID-19 therapeutics and workplace protections, and other activities.
 
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance for states and local health departments on collecting data on pregnancy and postpartum status in conjunction with COVID-19 tests. In addition, the bill provides funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand particular maternal health surveillance programs. The CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must also publish pregnancy and postpartum data related to COVID-19, and the CDC and the Indian Health Service must consult with tribes about collecting this data for tribal populations.
 
Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration must collect information about the effects of COVID-19 therapeutics on pregnant and postpartum individuals. The NIH must also ensure that at least one vaccine will be suitable for that population and must support related research.
 
In addition, the Department of Labor must implement an emergency temporary standard to protect employees from workplace exposures to the virus that causes COVID-19 that specifically addresses pregnant and postpartum individuals. Certain regulatory requirements shall not apply in developing this standard.
 
The CDC must also carry out an education campaign about pregnancy and COVID-19 and must establish a task force that addresses maternity care during the COVID-19 emergency.
 
Furthermore, the Government Accountability Office must report on maternal health and public health emergency preparedness.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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 committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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 committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, 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 committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-08-11
text: Introduced in House