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WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) reintroduced the Healthy Moms and Babies Act to improve maternal and child health care across the nation. The maternal health crisis in the United States particularly affects those living in rural America and women of color. Grassley previously chaired the Senate Finance Committee and continues to serve as a committee member, alongside Hassan.

The legislation builds on Grassley and Hassan’s longstanding efforts to improve maternal and child health by delivering high-quality coordinated care, supporting women and babies with 21st century technology and taking other steps to reduce maternal mortality.

Between 2018 and 2022, maternal mortality increased from 17.4 per 100,000 births to 22.3 per 100,000 births, according to data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

“We must do a better job at supporting pregnant mothers and their babies. Our bipartisan legislation will enable high-quality coordinated care to our most vulnerable moms. Through community-based efforts and 21st century technology, we can prevent maternal mortality and high-risk pregnancies, regardless of a mom’s zip code. I’ve strongly supported the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, and last Congress, we passed legislation to help stillbirth prevention efforts. Now, I’ll keep working with my colleagues to help more expectant families,” Grassley said.

“It is an outrage that in one of the richest countries on earth, women are dying during pregnancy and childbirth at increasingly alarming rates, particularly women of color. We can and must make pregnancy safer and protect women from preventable deaths. Our bipartisan bill takes important and long overdue steps to help improve care for pregnant women and their infants, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation that will help save lives and keep families whole,” Hassan said.

Click HERE to download broadcast-quality video of Grassley discussing the legislation.

The Healthy Moms and Babies Act will improve maternal and child health care by:

  • Coordinating and providing “whole-person” care – supporting outcome-focused and community-based prevention, supporting stillbirth prevention activities and expanding the maternal health workforce;
  • Modernizing maternal health care through telehealth to support women living in rural America and women of color; and
  • Reducing maternal mortality and high-risk pregnancies, including C-section births, and improving understanding of the social determinants of health in pregnant and postpartum women.

Additional information on the Grassley-Hassan Healthy Moms and Babies Act is available below:

Background

Grassley has been a long-time supporter of the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Home visits from a nurse and other health care professionals provide important support and resources to improve health outcomes for at-risk pregnant moms and families with children from birth to kindergarten.

The Grassley-backed Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act became law last Congress, paving the way for Title V funds of the Social Security Act to be used for stillbirth prevention activities and programs. Grassley co-sponsored the bipartisan National Stillbirth Prevention Day resolution to recognize those who have endured loss through stillbirth and to raise public awareness, lending urgency to public health efforts aimed at saving lives.

Earlier this year, Grassley joined his colleagues in introducing the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act to provide critical support to women during typically challenging phases of motherhood – including prenatal, postpartum and early childhood development. The measure also bolsters access to resources and assistance to help mothers and their children thrive.