[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8521 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8521
To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal
morbidity or mortality as a result of being a victim of intimate
partner violence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 27, 2026
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. Dingell, Ms.
Underwood, and Ms. Adams) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal
morbidity or mortality as a result of being a victim of intimate
partner violence.
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 ``Protect Moms From Domestic Violence
Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
seek to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine
(or, if the Academy declines to enter into such arrangement, another
appropriate entity) to study how domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child
sexual abuse, forced marriage, reproductive coercion, intergenerational
violence, trauma, or psychiatric disorders impact risk for maternal
morbidity and maternal mortality, including intimate partner homicide.
(b) Topics.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine--
(A) whether and how domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking,
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage,
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence,
trauma, or psychiatric disorders increase the risk of
suicide, homicide, substance use, drug overdose, or
poor birth outcomes among pregnant and postpartum
persons; and
(B) the extent to which domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking,
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage,
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence,
trauma, or psychiatric disorders are social
determinants of health; and
(2) give particular focus to impacts among diverse
communities, including Black and African American, Hispanic and
Latino, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander,
Alaskan Native, and LGBTQIA2S+ birthing persons, and adolescent
mothers.
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD
HEALTH OUTCOMES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services
Administration, and in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of
the Administration for Children and Families, the Director of the
Indian Health Service, the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and
Substance Use, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall award
grants to eligible entities for developing and implementing innovative
approaches, including culturally relevant public and provider education
campaigns, to improve maternal and child health outcomes of victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human
trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced marriage,
reproductive coercion, intergenerational violence, trauma, or
psychiatric disorders.
(b) Report to Congress on Best Practices.--Not later than 3 years
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 3 years thereafter,
the Secretary of Health and Services shall report to Congress on best
practices for developing and implementing innovative approaches
described in subsection (a).
(c) Eligible Entity.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall be--
(1) a State, local governmental entity, or federally
recognized Tribal government;
(2) a nonprofit organization or community-based
organization that provides prevention or intervention services
related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual
abuse, forced marriage, reproductive coercion,
intergenerational violence, trauma, or psychiatric disorders;
(3) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, or Urban Indian
organization (as such terms are defined in section 4 of the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603));
(4) a Tribal epidemiology center described in section 214
of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621m);
(5) a Federally qualified health center (as defined in
section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395x(aa));
(6) a clinic certified as a certified community behavioral
health clinic pursuant to section 223 of the Protecting Access
to Medicare Act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. 1396a);
(7) an entity, the principal purpose of which is to provide
health care, such as a hospital, clinic, health department, or
freestanding birth center;
(8) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001));
(9) a substance use disorder treatment program with
specialized services for parents; or
(10) a hospital or other health care facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
(d) Priority in Awarding Grants.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall give priority
to applicants proposing--
(1) to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual
violence, and mental health and substance use disorders among
pregnant persons;
(2) to address issues relating to people experiencing
domestic violence and sexual violence who are pregnant, persons
at risk for becoming pregnant due to violence or abuse, and
postpartum persons experiencing violence;
(3) to develop or implement innovative approaches,
including cultural bias training, antiracism training or
implicit bias interruption or reduction strategies, and
strategies to identify and prevent domestic violence within all
racial, cultural, ethnic and community groups, including Black
or African American, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian,
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Alaskan Native, and
LGBTQIA2S+ persons;
(4) to develop or implement innovative approaches at Tribal
epidemiology centers;
(5) to develop or implement innovative approaches relating
to the improvement of maternal health surveillance; or
(6) to facilitate shared learning and dissemination of
information through convening meetings with other grant
recipients under this section.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2029.
SEC. 4. GUIDANCE.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish and disseminate to
States, Indian Tribes, territories, health care providers, and managed
care entities guidance on--
(1) developing protocols on and providing--
(A) universal education on healthy relationships
and intimate partner violence;
(B) routine assessment of intimate partner violence
and mental and behavioral health conditions; and
(C) health promotion and strategies for trauma-
informed care plans; and
(2) creating sustainable partnerships between health care
providers and community-based organizations that address
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking,
human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced
marriage, reproductive coercion, or intergenerational violence.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Freestanding birth center.--The term ``freestanding
birth center'' has the meaning given that term in section
1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
(2) Maternal morbidity.--The term ``maternal morbidity''
means a health condition, including a mental health condition
or substance use disorder, that--
(A) is attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or
childbirth; and
(B) results in significant short-term or long-term
consequences to the health of the individual who was
pregnant.
(3) Maternal mortality.--The term ``maternal mortality''--
(A) means death that--
(i) occurs during, or within the 1-year
period after, pregnancy; and
(ii) is attributed to or aggravated by
pregnancy-related or childbirth complications;
and
(B) includes a suicide, drug overdose death,
homicide (including a domestic violence-related
homicide), or other death resulting from a mental
health or substance use disorder attributed to or
aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth
complications.
(4) Postpartum.--The term ``postpartum'' means the 12-month
period following childbirth.
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