H.R. 4995: Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2019-11-08 · 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 2019-11-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
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

Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2020

Plain summary

Excellence in Maternal Health Act of 2020 This bill expands initiatives to address maternal health in rural areas and promote innovation in the field. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish rural obstetric networks for improving outcomes in birth and maternal morbidity through collaboration, training, and program evaluation. HHS also must award demonstration program grants to (1) train physicians, medical residents, and other practitioners to provide maternal and obstetric services in rural communities; and (2) support academic programs that develop or provide training to improve maternal care in rural areas. Further, the bill adds maternal health services as part of the telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. The bill also makes a series of changes to the research and reporting requirements of HHS with respect to data on maternal health outcomes. Additionally, the bill establishes grants to (1) develop best practices to reduce preventable maternal mortality; (2) train health care professionals about reducing and preventing discrimination when providing maternal health services; (3) support perinatal quality collaboratives in states, tribes, or tribal organizations to improve perinatal care and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women; and (4) establish evidence-informed, integrated health care services for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. HHS also must contract with an independent research organization to study and make recommendations to accredited school training programs about discrimination and implicit and explicit biases.

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

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] · 31 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 4995, Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act of 2019 (2020-02-13)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), André Carson (D-IN), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Sean Casten (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Joseph D. Morelle (D-NY), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr4995.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr4995 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116