Bill > S1605

This bill, the Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act, authorizes appropriations for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct data collection, surveillance, and research on maternal health outcomes during public health emergencies. It provides funding for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program, the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program, and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to support efforts to understand the impact of public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, on pregnant and postpartum individuals and their newborns, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups. The bill also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make this data publicly available and issue guidance to states and localities to ensure comprehensive data collection and disaggregation. Additionally, it directs the CDC to conduct public health education campaigns to provide accurate, evidence-based information to pregnant and postpartum individuals, their employers, and health care providers during public health emergencies. Lastly, the bill establishes a task force to develop federal recommendations for respectful, responsive, and empowering maternity care during public health emergencies.

Health and Social Services

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1605/all-info