The Moms Matter Act would create two federal grant programs focused on maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, would run a Maternal Mental Health Equity Grant Program to award grants to eligible entities that serve pregnant and postpartum people. Eligible entities include community-based organizations, nonprofits, maternity care and mental or behavioral health providers, State or local governments, Indian Tribes, and Urban Indian organizations. Grant uses listed in the bill include integrating maternal mental and behavioral health into primary care, group prenatal and postpartum programs, referrals to addiction treatment, suicide prevention, provider education and training, hotlines and websites, and programs at freestanding birth centers. Grantees must report annually, and HHS must send a report to Congress by the end of fiscal year 2030 summarizing results and recommendations.
The bill would also add a Maternal Mental and Behavioral Health Care Workforce Grants program to Title VII of the Public Health Service Act. That program would award grants to create or expand schools or training programs, offer scholarships, and grow and diversify the workforce of mental and behavioral health providers who specialize in maternal care. The Secretary would give priority to programs that recruit and retain students from racial and ethnic minority groups, encourage practice in health professional shortage areas or areas with maternal health disparities, and include bias and racism training in curricula. Grant periods may be up to 5 years, recipients must submit annual reports, and HHS must report to Congress on effectiveness within 4 years.
The bill was introduced on May 18, 2026, by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Cory Booker, Christopher Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen, Martin Heinrich, Jeff Merkley, Amy Klobuchar, and Jon Ossoff, and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
If you are pregnant or within one year after pregnancy, the bill would direct federal funds to programs that aim to expand behavioral health services, group prenatal or postpartum care, addiction treatment referrals, suicide-prevention programs, and public information about warning signs. If you run or work for a community organization, maternity care practice, mental health clinic, freestanding birth center, or tribal or urban Indian organization, you could be eligible to apply for grants described in the bill. If you educate or train mental and behavioral health professionals, the workforce grants could provide funding to create or expand training programs and scholarships, especially to recruit diverse students and encourage practice in shortage areas. The bill defines "postpartum period" as the 1-year period after pregnancy and includes suicide and overdose in its definition of maternal mortality.
No publicly available information.
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