Federal funding for transparent maternal health data and equitable emergency care

What it does

This bill authorizes $190 million in federal funding for maternal health data collection, surveillance, and research during public health emergencies. It directs the CDC to collect and publicly share disaggregated data on maternal and infant health outcomes (broken down by race, ethnicity, and other demographics), establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for respectful maternity care during emergencies, and funds programs to improve maternal health equity—particularly for communities with higher maternal mortality rates.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is federal funding for surveillance, data collection, and research on maternal health outcomes during public health emergencies, with explicit focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities. It is a public health infrastructure and equity measure, not a regulatory change or market intervention.

What the text implies

• The bill's requirement to disaggregate and publicly disclose maternal health data by race, ethnicity, and other demographics may expose systemic disparities in care quality and outcomes, potentially creating political or legal pressure on hospitals and health systems to address documented inequities.
• The task force's broad mandate to develop federal recommendations on maternity care—including licensure, training, and Medicaid reimbursement for midwives and doulas—may shift state-level policy on scope of practice and insurance coverage, affecting the competitive position of different maternity care providers.
• The bill's focus on 'respectful maternity care' and recommendations on birthing with or without companions, telehealth access, and newborn separation policies may establish federal standards that conflict with existing state hospital policies or clinical protocols, creating implementation friction.
• Funding for perinatal health workers and doulas, combined with Medicaid reimbursement recommendations, may increase demand for these roles but does not guarantee state adoption of coverage or training standards, creating a gap between federal guidance and state implementation.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Pregnant and postpartum individuals, particularly those in racial and ethnic minority communities, gain access to transparent health data, federal guidance on respectful maternity care, and targeted research addressing documented disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity. The bill funds capacity-building for state and local health departments and establishes mechanisms to ensure equitable care during public health emergencies.

Who stands to gain

• CDC and HRSA (federal agencies receiving appropriations)
• State, Tribal, territorial, and local public health departments (capacity-building funding)
• Community-based organizations addressing maternal health disparities (potential grant recipients)
• Perinatal health workers, doulas, and certified midwives (if states adopt Medicaid reimbursement rec

Named in the bill

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Indian Health Service (IHS), State and local public health departments, Indian Tribes and Urban Indian organizations, Community-based organizations, Maternal Mortality Review Committees, International Confederation of Midwives

Where it stands

68 cosponsors: 68 Democrats.

• May 14, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 14, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

3 lobbying clients named this bill on 3 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,372,972 in lobbying spend. A filing names 33 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 61% of bills with at least one filing.

Lauren Underwood, the sponsor, reported $424,700 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc — $652,972 on 1 filing
• National Electrical Manufacturers Association — $650,000 on 1 filing
• Center for Reproductive Rights — $70,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.