Perinatal Workforce Act
Sponsored By: Representative Moore (WI)
Introduced
Summary
This bill would expand and diversify the perinatal workforce to improve respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care through new guidance, grant programs, reporting, and standard definitions. It focuses on recruiting diverse midwives, perinatal health workers, nurses, and related professionals and on reducing disparities in maternal outcomes.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to grow perinatal clinicians
This bill would create grants to start or expand accredited programs that train physician assistants, midwives meeting international standards, and perinatal health workers. Grants could pay for program capacity, clinical placements, and scholarships to recruit diverse students. Grants would prioritize students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups and those who plan to work in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Grants may run up to 5 years and would be authorized at $15 million per year for FY2027–FY2031. The Secretary would report to Congress on program effectiveness within 4 years.
Scholarships for perinatal nursing students
This bill would fund grants to nursing schools to grow and diversify the perinatal nursing workforce. Grants could provide scholarships for nurse practitioners, certified nurse‑midwives, and clinical nurse specialists with a maternal or perinatal focus. Grants would prioritize recruiting diverse students and placing students in Health Professional Shortage Areas. Grants may run up to 5 years and would be authorized at $15 million per year for FY2027–FY2031. The Secretary would provide technical assistance and must report to Congress on effectiveness within 4 years.
Clear definitions for perinatal care
This bill would set definitions used throughout the law. It would define 'maternity care provider' to include physicians, physician assistants, midwives meeting international ICM standards, APRNs, state‑credentialed doulas, and IBLCE lactation consultants. It would define 'perinatal health worker' as nonclinical workers such as doulas, community health workers, interpreters, and others. It would define 'postpartum' as the one‑year period after pregnancy and adopt the existing legal definition for racial and ethnic minority groups.
Federal guidance on respectful maternity care
This bill would require HHS to issue guidance to States within two years on delivering respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternal care. The guidance would promote recruiting and retaining diverse maternity care providers and require bias and racism training. It would encourage teams to include midwives who meet international standards, perinatal health workers, physician assistants, APRNs, and IBLCE‑certified lactation consultants. The guidance would also encourage job shadowing opportunities for accredited midwifery students.
NIH study on respectful maternity care
This bill would direct the National Institutes of Health to study best practices in respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care. NIH would submit a public report to Congress within two years that lists examples, evidence of reduced disparities, and recommendations for hospitals, birth centers, insurers, and others. The study would provide information that could shape future programs and policies, but it would not give direct payments to households.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moore (WI)
WI • D
Cosponsors
Underwood
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
McIver
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Tlaib
MI • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Pressley
MA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Menefee
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Bell
MO • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Clarke (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Garamendi
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Dingell
MI • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Jacobs
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Figures
AL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Horsford
NV • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Garcia (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Veasey
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Beatty
OH • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Smith (WA)
WA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
McGarvey
KY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Takano
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Latimer
NY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Johnson (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in