Appropriations Wins

Every year, Congress works on appropriations legislation that funds the federal government. BMHC Members have been actively engaged and committed to ensuring that our priorities are included in these bills since the Caucus's founding in 2019. Furthermore, Co-Chair Underwood serves on the House Committee on Appropriations and leads on-committee work to secure maternal health priorities.

Since 2023, the Caucus has enacted over $200 million in NEW Momnibus and maternal health funding through the federal appropriations process. This funding is now flowing to community organizations, educational institutions, researchers, providers, and more across the country. Visit the Momnibus Money Tracker to learn more about the impact these dollars are having in your community.  

Fiscal Year 2024

Key maternal health provisions in this package, which was signed into law by President Biden in March 2024, include:

  • $53.4 million, an increase of $10 million, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative.
    • The BMHC championed IMPROVE since its establishment in 2019 and secured annual funding increases every year since 2019. The FY24 funds will allow NIH to expand research on the leading causes of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities, and identify clinical and non-clinical interventions that will save lives and promote maternal health equity. BMHC Co-Chair Underwood has also introduced legislation, the NIH IMPROVE Act, to permanently authorize this program.  
  • $10 million through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to fund research grants at minority serving institutions to study maternal health disparities.
    • This funding is based on the Data to Save Moms Act in the Momnibus. The BMHC worked with the House Appropriations Committee to secure this NEW funding for the first time in FY2023. 
  • $7 million through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health to fund community-based organizations that are supporting moms in geographic areas with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes.
  • $23 million to fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers & Babies (SET-NET) program, which detects the effects of new health threats on pregnant people and their babies by collecting key data.
  • Report Language that supports $15 million for implementation of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act (P.L.117-69) at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    • Co-Chair Underwood’s Protecting Moms Who Served Act, enacted in 2021 under the Biden-Harris Administration, was the first Momnibus bill signed into law. 
  • $55 million through HRSA to fund State Maternal Health Innovation Grants.
    • With this funding requested by the BMHC, states collaborate with maternal health experts to implement state-specific action plans to improve access to maternal care services, identify and address workforce needs, and support postpartum and interconception care services. These grants play an important role in improving access to comprehensive and high-quality care for populations disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality and severe morbidity.  
  • $110.5 million, a $2.5 million increase, through CDC for Safe Motherhood programs.
    • This funding requested by the BMHC will help to improve health outcomes during and after pregnancy, including reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes. 
  • $8 million, a $3 million increase, through HRSA to expand the maternal health workforce in Maternity Care Target Areas.
    • This funding requested by the BMHC supports efforts through the National Health Service Corps to identify areas experiencing a shortage of maternity care providers and provide loan repayment and scholarships for the maternal health workforce in these underserved areas. 
  • $5 million in funding for midwifery education and training through HRSA.
    • This funding will support grants to educate midwives and address the national shortage of maternity care providers, one of BMHC’s key priorities. 
  • $8 million through HRSA to support training for Certified Nurse Midwives.
    • This funding supports loan repayment and scholarships for Certified Nurse Midwives who commit to serve in “Maternity Care Target Areas.”  
  • $12 million, a $4 million increase, in funding for Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategic (RMOMS) program at HRSA.
    • The RMOMS program funds critical initiatives to expand access to services in rural communities and is strongly supported by the BMHC. 
  • $39 million to fund substance use disorder treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum individuals through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
    • This funding requested by the BMHC addresses one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in states across the country. 
  • $10 million through HRSA for Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Related Disorders.
    • This funding will expand access to community treatment and recovery support services for pregnant people and new mothers with maternal mental and behavioral health conditions, a major priority of the BMHC. 
  • $200,000 to fund an Advisory Committee to monitor and report on the implementation of the recommendations from the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women (PRGLAC) through the HHS Office of the Secretary.
    • This funding will advance efforts to promote the safe inclusion of pregnant and lactating individuals in clinical trials for vaccines and therapeutics, a priority supported by BMHC.
  • $7 million in funding for the Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
    • The hotline, a BMHC priority, provides 24/7 free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy, including phone or text access to professional counselors, real-time support and information, and services in both English and Spanish. The hotline is available at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
  • Prioritization of birth center expansions at HRSA
    • HRSA must develop a plan to assist in birth center expansion in rural and urban maternity care deserts.
  • $4 billion for global health programs that improve maternal and child health and fight infectious disease.
    • This funding supports clinical maternal and newborn services to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission and maternal mortality, including through the Safe Births, Healthy Babies initiative.

Fiscal Year 2023

The Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations omnibus included over $100 million in NEW maternal health funding secured by the Caucus for Momnibus and maternal health priorities. Key maternal health provisions in this package, which was signed into law by President Biden in December 2022, include:

  • Language directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to “implement and fully resource the Protecting Moms Who Served Act (P.L. 117-69)”
    • This provision will fully fund the Protecting Moms Who Served Act from the Momnibus.
  • $43.4 million, an increase of $13.4 million above the FY22 enacted level, for the National Institute of Health (NIH) Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative
    • The Black Maternal Health Caucus (BMHC) has championed IMPROVE since its establishment in 2019. The FY23 funds will allow NIH to expand research on the leading causes of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities, and identify clinical and non-clinical interventions that will save lives and promote maternal health equity.
  • $10 million, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), to establish a research network that is comprised of and supports minority-serving institutions to study maternal health disparities
  • $7 million, through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for awards to community-based organizations located in geographic areas with high rates of adverse maternal health outcomes – particularly among people from racial and ethnic minority groups – to achieve maternal health equity.
    • This funding, through the HHS Office of Minority Health, is based on funding for community-based organizations included in the Kira Johnson Act in the Momnibus.
  • $3 million, an increase of $1.5 million above the FY22 enacted level, through NIH to support research on the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy, lactation, and postpartum health with a focus on individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups
  • $23 million, an increase of $10 million above the FY22 enacted level, for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers & Babies program (SET-NET), which detects the effects of new health threats like COVID-19 on pregnant people and their babies by collecting key data
  • $108 million, an increase of $25 million above the FY22 enacted level, for Safe Motherhood/Infant Health Programs at CDC, which include Maternal Mortality Review Committees and Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
    • Through this increased funding requested by the BMHC, states will be able to identify the specific drivers of each maternal death in the state and then implement and expand evidence-based programs at hospitals and other birthing facilities to address the causes of adverse maternal health outcomes.
  • $823 million, an increase of $87 million above the FY22 enacted level, through HRSA for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant
    • This flexible funding stream requested by the BMHC allows states to meet local maternal and child health needs, providing services to an estimated 60 million Americans every year.
  • $2 million, an increase of $1 million above the FY22 enacted level, for the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Promotion of Optimal Birth Outcomes through HHS Office of the Secretary – Office of Women’s Health
    • This funding requested by BMHC will be used by the Committee to oversee the implementation of HHS’s Plan to Improve Maternal Health in America.
  • $5 million, an increase of $4 million above the FY22 enacted level, through HRSA for Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTAs)
    • This funding requested by the BMHC supports efforts through the National Health Service Corps to identify areas experiencing a shortage of maternity care providers and expand the maternal health workforce in these underserved areas.
  • $13 million for midwifery education and training grants through HRSA
    • $5 million requested by the BMHC for the education of midwives through the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program.
    • $8 million requested by the BMHC to grow and diversify the certified nurse-midwife workforce by awarding scholarships to students and registered nurses to cover the total cost of tuition for the duration of a nurse midwifery program, with a particular focus on growing the pipeline of practitioners working in rural and underserved communities.
  • $7 million, an increase of $3 million above the FY22 enacted level, for the Maternal Mental Health Hotline through HRSA
    • The hotline, a BMHC priority, provides 24/7, free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy, including phone or text access to professional counselors, real-time support and information, and services in both English and Spanish.
  • $55 million, an increase of $26 million above the FY22 enacted level, for State Maternal Health Innovation Grants through HRSA
    • This funding requested by the BMHC allows states to collaborate with maternal health stakeholders to most effectively use resources dedicated to addressing maternal health disparities and improving outcomes.
  • $15 million through HRSA for Healthy Start grantees to support nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, physician assistants, and other maternal-child advanced practice health professionals within all Healthy Start program sites nationwide
    • The Healthy Start program improves maternal and infant health outcomes and reduces disparities by providing health care and social services, public health programs, and trainings for health care professionals, supported by funding requested by the BMHC.
  • $15.3 million, an increase of $3.3 million above the FY22 enacted level, through HRSA for the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) program
    • Supported by funding requested by the BMHC, AIM program is a data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative, allowing hospitals and other birth facilities to adopt and implement evidence-based patient safety bundles to address common pregnancy-related complications like obstetric hemorrhage, severe hypertension, cardiac conditions, and other conditions.
  • $10 million for a Pregnancy Medical Home Demonstration Project through HRSA
    • This initiative, with funding requested by the BMHC, will incentivize maternal health care professionals to provide integrated health care services to pregnant people and new mothers.
  • $8 million, an increase of $2 million above the FY22 enacted level, through HRSA for the Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategies (RMOMS) program
    • The RMOMS program funds critical initiatives to expand access to maternal care and obstetric services in rural communities, supported by funding requested by the BMHC.
  • $38.931 million, an increase of $4 million above the FY22 enacted level, through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for substance use disorder treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum individuals
    • This funding requested by the BMHC addresses one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in states across the country.
  • $10 million, an increase of $3.5 million above the FY22 enacted level, through HRSA for Screening and Treatment for Maternal Depression and Related Disorders
    • Using funding requested by the BMHC, this program will expand access to community-based treatment and recovery support services for pregnant people and new mothers with maternal mental and behavioral health conditions.
  • $200,000 to establish an Advisory Committee to monitor and report on the implementation of the recommendations from the Task Force on Research Specific to Pregnant Women and Lactating Women (PRGLAC) through the HHS Office of the Secretary
    • This funding will advance efforts to promote the safe inclusion of pregnant and lactating individuals in clinical trials for vaccines and therapeutics, a priority supported by the BMHC.
  • Authorizing language
    • The omnibus will make permanent the American Rescue Plan provision that gives states the option to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year, a priority supported by the Black Maternal Health Caucus.
    • The omnibus includes the Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act of 2022, led by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, that reauthorizes and expands maternal mental health screening and treatment grants