No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6394 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6394
To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity
outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2025
Mrs. Hinson (for herself and Mr. Gray) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity
outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives, 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 ``Midwives for Maximizing Optimal
Maternity Services Act of 2025'' or the ``Midwives for MOMS Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Title VII of the Public Health Service Act is
amended by inserting after section 760 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 294k) the
following:
``SEC. 760A. MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to institutions
of higher education (as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of section
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965) for the following:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited midwifery
school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited midwifery
school or program.
``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for
increasing the number of, qualified preceptors for training the
students of an accredited midwifery school or program.
``(b) Priority Evaluation.--In awarding grants under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall give precedence to any institution of higher
education that--
``(1) agrees to prioritize students who plan to practice in
a health professional shortage area designated under section
332; and
``(2) demonstrates a focus on recruitment and retention of
students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities
through--
``(A) enhanced recruitment strategies;
``(B) mentorship programs;
``(C) academic remediation; or
``(D) internships and fellowships.
``(c) Restriction.--The Secretary shall not provide any assistance
under this section to be used with respect to a midwifery school or
program within a school of nursing (as defined in section 801).
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $15,000,000 for the period of fiscal
years 2026 through 2030.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
(b) Definitions.--
(1) Midwifery school or program.--Section 799B(1)(A) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(A)) is amended--
(A) by inserting ```midwifery school or program',''
before ``and `school of chiropractic''';
(B) by inserting ``a degree or certificate in
midwifery or an equivalent degree or certificate,''
before ``and a degree of doctor of chiropractic or an
equivalent degree''; and
(C) by striking ``any such school'' and inserting
``any such school or program''.
(2) Accredited.--Section 799B(1)(E) of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p(1)(E)) is amended by inserting ``a
midwifery school or program,'' before ``or a graduate program
in health administration''.
SEC. 3. NURSE-MIDWIVES.
Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting
after section 811 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 296j) the following:
``SEC. 812. MIDWIFERY EXPANSION PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may award grants to schools of
nursing for the following:
``(1) Direct support of students in an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(2) Establishment or expansion of an accredited nurse-
midwifery school or program.
``(3) Securing, preparing, or providing support for
increasing the numbers of, preceptors at clinical training
sites to precept students training to become certified nurse-
midwives.
``(b) Priority Evaluation.--In awarding grants under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall give precedence to any school of nursing
that--
``(1) agrees to prioritize students who choose to pursue an
advanced education degree in nurse-midwifery to practice in a
health professional shortage area designated under section 332;
and
``(2) demonstrates a focus on recruitment and retention of
students from rural and economically disadvantaged communities
through--
``(A) enhanced recruitment strategies;
``(B) mentorship programs;
``(C) academic remediation; or
``(D) internships and fellowships.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--To carry out this section, there is
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out this section for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall use--
``(A) 50 percent for subsection (a)(1);
``(B) 25 percent for subsection (a)(2); and
``(C) 25 percent for subsection (a)(3).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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