Perinatal Workforce Act
Sponsored By: Representative Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
Introduced
Summary
Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce by funding training, scholarships, and grants for midwives, perinatal health workers, physician assistants, and maternal-focused nurses. It would also require HHS guidance, an NIH study on respectful culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care, and GAO reports on education and access barriers.
Show full summary
- Pregnant people and families would get federal guidance promoting respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care and team-based models that include midwives, perinatal health workers, lactation consultants, physician assistants, and advanced practice nurses.
- Students and the health workforce would gain new grant and scholarship programs to expand accredited training, increase enrollment, and prioritize racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students. Grants may run up to 5 years and the bill authorizes $15 million per year for 2027–2031 for each program.
- Policymakers and researchers would get new evidence. NIH would complete a 2-year study compiling best practices and examples of culturally congruent maternity care. GAO would report within 2 years and every 5 years after on education barriers and pay equity for perinatal workers.
*Would authorize $15 million per year for each of two grant programs from 2027–2031, which would increase federal spending if those amounts are later appropriated.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants to Grow Perinatal Workforce
If enacted, HHS would award grants and scholarships to expand training for perinatal nurses, midwives, PAs, and perinatal health workers. Two grant streams would each be authorized at $15 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 (about $30 million per year total). Grants could run up to 5 years and would fund new or expanded accredited programs and scholarships. The Secretary would prioritize recruiting and retaining students and faculty from racial and ethnic minority groups, placing graduates in Health Professional Shortage Areas and high‑disparity regions, including bias/racism training, and requiring annual reporting. HHS would provide technical assistance and must report to Congress within 4 years on program effectiveness.
New Studies and Guidance on Maternity Care
If enacted, the NIH would complete a study within 2 years on best practices for respectful, culturally and linguistically congruent maternity care and post a report to Congress and the public. The GAO would report within 2 years and then every 5 years on barriers to maternity education and access, disparities, and recommendations on pay equity for perinatal workers. The HHS Secretary would issue guidance to States within 2 years on using diverse, multidisciplinary maternity teams, recruiting and keeping diverse providers, and offering job‑shadowing opportunities for midwifery students.
Who Counts as Maternity Providers
If enacted, the bill would add clear definitions for maternity care terms. 'Postpartum' would mean the one-year period after pregnancy ends. 'Maternity care provider' would include physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, midwives meeting international standards, and IBCLC‑certified lactation consultants. A doula would count as a maternity care provider only if the State accredits doulas for Medicaid reimbursement under a State plan or waiver. The bill would also define 'perinatal health worker' to include doulas, community health workers, peer supporters, lactation counselors, dietitians, home visitors, patient navigators, and interpreters.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Adams
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
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Ivey
MD • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Cherfilus-McCormick
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
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Stansbury
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
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
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
McBath
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
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 3/25/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov