H.R. 20: Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act

111th Congress · introduced 2009-01-06 · Health · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-01-06 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 164 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR20 (2009-03-30), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act

Plain summary

Melanie Blocker Stokes Mom's Opportunity to Access Health, Education, Research, and Support for Postpartum Depression Act or the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act - Title I: Research on Postpartum Conditions - (Sec. 101) Encourages the Secretary of Health and Human Services to continue: (1) activities on postpartum depression; and (2) research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and treatments for, postpartum conditions. (Sec. 102) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health may conduct a nationally representative longitudinal study of the relative mental health consequences for women of resolving a pregnancy in various ways, including carrying the pregnancy to term and parenting the child, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, miscarriage, and having an abortion. Title II: Delivery of Services Regarding Postpartum Conditions - (Sec. 201) Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary to make grants for projects for the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems for the delivery of essential services to individuals with a postpartum condition and their families. Directs the Secretary to ensure that such projects provide education and services with respect to the diagnosis and management of postpartum conditions. Authorizes such projects to include: (1) delivering or enhancing outpatient home-based health and support services; and (2) providing education to new mothers and their families about postpartum conditions to promote earlier diagnosis and treatment. Sets forth grant requirements. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical assistance to entities seeking a grant. Title III: General Provisions - (Sec. 301) Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the benefits of screening for postpartum conditions. (Sec. 303) Prohibits the Secretary from utilizing amounts appropriated under this Act to carry out activities or programs that are duplicative of activities or programs that are already being carried out through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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A “Nay” vote

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PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] · 15 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 20, Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act (2009-03-19); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 20, Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act (2009-03-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA)

Recorded votes

House roll call 164 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR20 (2009-03-30): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hr20.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hr>

Record fed-us-cong111-hr20 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111