Protecting Moms and Babies Act

Full Title:
Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act

Summary#

This bill would create several programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address climate-related risks for people who are pregnant, people up to one year after pregnancy, and children under age 3. It defines key terms and requires HHS to set up a competitive grant program to award grants to 10 local consortia. Grants may fund training, hiring and support for perinatal health workers, data collection, direct assistance (for example air conditioners, weatherization, filtration, and financial or housing help), evacuation and transportation aid, cooling shelters, and community mitigation projects such as tree planting and infrastructure improvements. Grantees must report annually, and HHS must publish a program report to Congress after five years.

The bill also would create a separate HHS grant program for health profession schools to add education and training about climate risks and maternal and infant health into curricula and continuing education. It would establish a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consortium to coordinate research on birth and climate change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would develop a public strategy for identifying high-risk areas and publish it after public notice and comment.

The bill includes definitions, selection priorities for grantees (for example areas with poor air quality, high social vulnerability, extreme heat, or high maternal mortality), requirements to avoid causing displacement or other harms, technical assistance from HHS, and public reporting requirements.

What it means for you#

  • Who is covered: the bill focuses on people who are pregnant, people up to one year after pregnancy, and children under 3.
  • Local groups can apply: HHS would make 10 competitive grants to local consortia that include a community-based group and other partners such as local health providers, public health departments, tribal organizations, or colleges.
  • Possible services: grants may pay for provider training, perinatal worker hiring and support, monitoring and data sharing, home cooling and weatherization, filtration systems, direct financial help, housing or evacuation assistance, transportation, and mental health counseling after severe events.
  • Health training: health profession schools may get grants to teach students and clinicians about how climate risks affect pregnant people and babies, and about racial and ethnic disparities and bias.
  • Research and mapping: NIH would run a consortium to coordinate research on birth and climate risks. CDC would develop a public strategy and maps to identify high-risk places, with public comment before publication.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $100,000,000 for the main grant program (fiscal years 2027 through 2030).
  • The bill authorizes $5,000,000 for the education and training grants for health profession schools (fiscal years 2027 through 2030).
  • No publicly available information on estimated administrative costs, detailed yearly spending plans, or additional funding needs beyond these authorizations.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.