Need-to-know legislation
Consider this your study guide for making a difference.
We know many busy mothers are not aware of the bills their representatives are working on. We also know that it’s these same busy mothers and their personal stories that can decide the future of these bills.
Passing bills is key to getting us closer to paid leave, affordable childcare, and improved maternal health outcomes for every mother.
Bills we’re fighting for right now
The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.3305/ S.1606): This legislation aims to save moms’ lives by directing multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations, and will make critical investments in social determinants of health that influence maternal health outcomes, like housing, transportation, and nutrition. It’s made up of 13 bills including the following:
- Kira Johnson Act (H.R. 3310/ S.2239) – Provides funding to community-based organizations that are working to improve maternal health outcomes and promote equity.
- Perinatal Workforce Act (H.R.3523/ S.1710) – Aims to grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure that every mom in America receives maternal health care and support from people they trust.
- Maternal Health for Veterans Act (H.R. 3303/ S.2026) – Aims to improve maternal health outcomes for veterans.
- Moms Matter Act (S. 1602/H.R. 3312) – Supports mothers with maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders.
- Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act (H.R.3302/ S.1601) – Invests in community-based initiatives to reduce levels of and exposure to climate change-related risks for moms and babies.
Click here to learn more about the Momnibus.
TAKE ACTION: Click here to email your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge their support of the Momnibus!
The Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (S.1714/ H.R. 3481): The FAMILY Act would establish America’s first national paid family and medical leave program, ensuring that every worker, regardless of the size of their employer or if they are self-employed or part-time, has access to paid leave for every serious medical event.
Click here to learn more about the FAMILY Act.
TAKE ACTION: Contact your Representatives in Congress via phone, email, and social media to urge their support! Find your U.S. Senators and House Representatives here.
Improving Child Care for Working Families Act (H.R.1421): This legislation aims to enhance Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAP), which currently allows families to set aside $5,000 of their pre-tax income to cover child care expenses. If passed, this bill would increase the cap to $10,500.
Click here to learn more about the Improving Child Care for Working Families Act.
TAKE ACTION: Contact your Representative in Congress via phone, email, and social media to urge their support! Find your House Representative here.
Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services Act (MOMS) Act of 2023 (H.R.3768/ S.1851): The Midwives for MOMS Act is bipartisan legislation that seeks to increase access to high quality, evidence-based midwifery providers. It would create federal grant funding opportunities to be used for expanding existing or creating new midwifery programs at nursing schools and institutions of higher education.
Click here to learn more about the Midwives for MOMS Act.
TAKE ACTION: Contact your Representatives in Congress via phone, email, and social media to urge their support! Find your U.S. Senators and House Representatives here.
Child Tax Credit: The Child Tax Credit (CTC) expansion included in the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024). This $78 billion tax package was passed by the House on January 31st, 2024 and is awaiting passage in the Senate. Under this package, the CTC would not increase ($2,000 per child), but it adjusts the credit amount to temporarily grow at the rate of inflation. It would also incrementally increase the refundable portion of the credit. For 2023 tax returns it would have jumped to $1,800, $1,900 for 2024 tax returns, and $2,000 in 2025 tax returns.
TAKE ACTION: Click here to email your U.S. Senators and tell them to expand the Child Tax Credit today!
The Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act (S.4079): This bipartisan bill would help rural hospitals and doctors prepare to handle the obstetric emergencies that come through their doors by creating an obstetric emergency training program for rural health care facilities that do not have a dedicated labor & delivery unit; providing federal grants for rural facilities to buy better equipment to train for and handle these emergencies; developing a pilot program for teleconsultation services, so that a doctor at a rural facility helping an expecting or postpartum mother facing an emergency can quickly consult with maternal health care experts; and directing HHS to study maternity ward closures, regional patterns of patient transport, and models for regional partnerships for rural obstetric care.
Click here to learn more about the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act.
TAKE ACTION: Contact your U.S. Senators via phone, email, and social media to urge their support! Find your U.S. Senators here.
We also advocate for continued and enhanced funding for programs aligned with our priorities, such as reauthorization of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act (H.R. 3838/ S.2415) and the PREEMIE Act (H.R.3226/ S.1573).