Congress funds effort to diversify maternal healthcare workforce
H.R. 8089 — Perinatal Workforce Act · Filed by Gwen Moore (D-WI) · 43 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 25, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
The Perinatal Workforce Act authorizes $15 million annually (2027–2031) in federal grants to nursing schools and other healthcare education programs to train more maternal and perinatal health professionals, with a focus on recruiting students from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and those planning to work in underserved areas. The bill also directs HHS to issue guidance to states on best practices for diverse, culturally competent maternity care teams and requires studies on barriers to maternal health education and disparities in access to care.
Why we flagged it
This bill establishes federal grant programs and guidance to expand and diversify the perinatal healthcare workforce, particularly targeting underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities and underserved geographic areas. It is a straightforward public health initiative with no hidden commercial or political agendas.
What the text implies
- Emphasis on 'implicit bias and racism' training in curricula may signal a shift toward mandatory DEI-focused education in health professions, which could face political resistance or implementation challenges in some states.
- International Confederation of Midwives standards requirement may create barriers for some existing U.S. midwifery programs that do not currently meet those standards, potentially disrupting existing educational pathways.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
schools of nursing; accredited midwifery education programs; physician assistant training programs