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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8715 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8715
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
pilot program under which the Secretary enters into public-private
partnerships with eligible entities to distribute to mothers of newborn
infants newborn supply kits, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2024
Ms. Letlow (for herself, Ms. Schrier, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Ms.
Barragan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
pilot program under which the Secretary enters into public-private
partnerships with eligible entities to distribute to mothers of newborn
infants newborn supply kits, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit
Act'' or the ``NEST Act''.
SEC. 2. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a
pilot program under which the Secretary will make grants or enter into
cooperative agreements with eligible entities to distribute to mothers
of newborn infants newborn supply kits.
(b) Distribution Criteria.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant or enters into a cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall
agree, as a condition on receiving such a grant or entering into such
an agreement, that in distributing newborn supply kits using funds
received through the pilot program under this section, the entity
shall--
(1) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the
geographical diversity of the recipients of such newborn supply
kits;
(2) give priority to geographic areas with the greatest
need, such as maternal care deserts, rural communities, and
communities with the highest maternal mortality rates (such as
the Delta region); and
(3) give priority to mothers of newborn infants whose
family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line
(as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block
Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a family of the size
involved.
(c) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the first grant or cooperative agreement is awarded under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the progress of the pilot
program under this section, including--
(A) the number of mothers served under the pilot
program (disaggregated by race, family income level,
and number of individuals in the household);
(B) the regions in the United States in which
newborn supply kits are being distributed through the
pilot program;
(C) feedback from mothers who have received newborn
supply kits through the pilot program; and
(D) such other information, as determined necessary
by the Secretary.
(2) Final report.--At the conclusion of the pilot program
under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report--
(A) on the results of the pilot program with
respect to maternal and infant health outcomes; and
(B) that includes the Secretary's recommendation on
whether to extend or expand the pilot program.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a community-based organization;
(B) a hospital; or
(C) another organization serving mothers and
infants.
(3) Newborn supply kit.--The term ``newborn supply kit''
means a kit composed of essential goods to help mothers recover
from childbirth and care for newborn infants that includes the
following items:
(A) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and
thermometers for newborn infants.
(B) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs,
breastfeeding supplies, information on the maternal
mental health hotline, information about Federal
programs providing support to postpartum women and
children, such as the special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children under section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786),
and evidence-based educational material on the use of
low-dose aspirin to address hypertension, preeclampsia,
and preterm birth.
(C) A blood pressure monitor.
(D) Other items necessary to support infant and
postpartum health (as determined by the Secretary).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2025 through 2029.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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