H.R. 959: Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-08 · Health · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-08 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. 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

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

Plain summary

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 This bill directs multi-agency efforts to improve maternal health, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups, veterans, and other vulnerable populations. It also addresses maternal health issues related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other specified departments must address the social determinants of maternal health, which include child care, housing, food security, transportation, and environmental conditions. The bill also extends to 24 months postpartum eligibility for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children. Additionally, HHS and other agencies must take actions to grow and diversify the maternal health workforce. To increase access to maternity care, HHS and other agencies must (1) award specified grants; (2) test an alternative payment model for perinatal care under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); and (3) support training, technology, and telehealth initiatives. The bill also increases research and data collection on maternal morbidity and mortality, particularly among tribal populations and minority groups. The Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice must establish programs to improve maternity care for incarcerated populations. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission must also report on the impact of Medicaid ineligibility for pregnant and postpartum prisoners. Additionally, as a condition for certain grants, states and territories must have laws limiting the use of restraints on pregnant individuals in prisons. The bill also directs activities to mitigate adverse maternal health outcomes associated with climate change and to improve maternal vaccination rates.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in 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

Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in 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. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] · 188 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), André Carson (D-IN), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and 128 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] reported raising $2.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (3)

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).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr959.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr959 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117