Congress funds study of how domestic violence kills pregnant women
S. 4387 — Protect Moms From Domestic Violence Act · Filed by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Apr 27, 2026 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to commission a study through the National Academy of Medicine on how domestic violence and related trauma increase the risk of maternal death and serious health complications during pregnancy and the postpartum year. It also authorizes $15 million annually (2027–2029) in grants to states, nonprofits, tribal governments, health centers, and hospitals to develop and test new approaches—including education, screening, and trauma-informed care—to protect pregnant and postpartum people experiencing violence, with particular focus on Black, Latino, Native American, and LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a federally funded study and grant program to address maternal health disparities linked to intimate partner violence. It is a straightforward public-health measure with no hidden provisions or private carve-outs.
What the text implies
- The bill's definition of maternal mortality explicitly includes suicide, drug overdose, and homicide in the postpartum year—broadening the scope beyond traditional obstetric complications and signaling recognition that violence-related deaths are a leading cause of postpartum mortality in the U.S.
- By requiring 'cultural bias training' and 'antiracism training' as grant priorities, the bill implicitly acknowledges systemic disparities in maternal health care and may drive institutional changes in how health providers screen for and respond to violence in Black, Latino, and Native American communities.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
nonprofit and community-based organizations providing domestic violence services; federally qualified health centers; certified community behavioral health clinics