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119-hr-8089119th CongressWALLET

Perinatal Workforce Act

Sponsored By: Representative Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

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.

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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.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

WI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/25/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 8/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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