Dads Matter Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Father inclusion and engagement would be the focus of a federal initiative to improve maternal and infant health.
Show full summary
- Families and infants: A federal public awareness campaign would provide resources within two years on fathers' roles, including skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding support, paternal postpartum depression, and how to spot pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and preterm labor.
- Fathers: Health systems would be encouraged to offer father-to-father peer support and screening for paternal depression with referrals to treatment to boost bonding and support maternal behavioral health.
- Health care providers and insurers: Within one year the Secretary would give states guidance to train maternity care providers and health coverage entities to engage fathers and teach them about prenatal appointment attendance, vaccines, safe sleep, and early childhood development.
- Accountability: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would study the act's effectiveness and report back within six years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
National campaign to include fathers in pregnancy care
Within 2 years of enactment, HHS would run a national public campaign. It would explain how fathers can help during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and counter myths that minimize their role. Resources would cover skin-to-skin contact, maternal mental health, appointment support, breastfeeding, and paternal postpartum depression. Materials would also warn about 12 named pregnancy problems, like preeclampsia, preterm labor, and gestational diabetes. This would focus on education and would not create new benefit checks or payments.
States get guidance to include fathers in care
Within 1 year of enactment, HHS would issue guidance to States on training providers to include fathers. States and health plans would be encouraged to train doctors, midwives, and clinics. Topics would include father peer support, what to expect around birth, and how dads can support and advocate. Guidance would cover vaccines, warning signs, fetal movement counting, mental health, breastfeeding, safe sleep, skin-to-skin, baby care, bonding, and early development. Providers would also be urged to screen dads for depression and address cultural beliefs about fatherhood.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 10/24/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 1/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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