Adams, Underwood Announce Maternal Health Priorities Included in FY2024 Bipartisan Appropriations Law

WASHINGTON – Today, Black Maternal Health Caucus (BMHC) Co-Chairs Alma Adams (NC-12) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) released the following statement after President Biden signed critical maternal health priorities into law as part of the bipartisan Consolidated Appropriations Act and Further Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024. Over $100 million for BMHC priorities and key Momnibus funding has been included in this law. Underwood and Adams are sponsors of the Momnibus, comprehensive legislation to end America’s maternal health crisis.

The BMHC led efforts to secure these resources in the final FY2024 appropriations package; their inclusion reflects the strength of the BMHC’s advocacy and broad, bipartisan recognition of the urgent need to address our nation’s growing maternal health crisis. These FY2024 investments build on the significant funding that the BMHC previously secured in FY2023.

“For the fifth year in a row, the Black Maternal Health Caucus secured significant federal resources to address our maternal health crisis and save moms’ lives. As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m pleased that we reached bipartisan agreement to fund evidence-based programs to support moms across the country and to directly address the drivers of maternal mortality and morbidity,” Underwood said. “But our work is far from done. Moms across America are demanding a comprehensive solution, and they cannot afford to wait any longer. We must pass the Momnibus now.”

“Through a hard-fought budget process emerges good news for mothers – especially expectant Black mothers,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. “Funding increases for vital research like the NIH IMPROVE Initiative will help reduce maternal mortality and by addressing the disparities that have made the childbirth more dangerous for so many women. Other critical maternal health projects Congresswoman Underwood and I have been fighting for through our work with the Black Maternal Health Caucus were preserved as well. As they work to close racial health gaps, the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democratic Leadership continue to show their commitment to creating an equitable society for all Americans.”

The FY2024 appropriations package includes:

• $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. The list of FY2023 funding announcements is available here.   
• $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. The list of awardees from FY2023 is available here.  
• $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.
  • This funding is based on Co-Chair Adams’ Kira Johnson Act in the Momnibus.
• $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.
  • This funding is based on the Co-Chair Underwood’s Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act in the Momnibus. 
• 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.

Underwood and Adams co-founded the BMHC in 2019 to advance federal solutions that save moms’ lives. The United States is one of the most dangerous countries on earth to give birth, with the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country. The situation is even more dire for Black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy related complications. Our moms are dying, and the Momnibus is the only comprehensive federal legislation that will address every driver of our maternal health crisis. 

As we begin to consider FY2025 Appropriations bills, the BMHC is continuing to advocate for urgent federal action to fully fund the Momnibus and solve our nation’s maternal health crisis. 

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