NIH maternal health program seeks $73M yearly boost
Passed one chamberH.R. 6238Latest action
Sponsor: Lauren Underwood · Representative · IL
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: NIH IMPROVE Act
119th Congress
Topics: Health care
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
The NIH IMPROVE Act would keep and grow a federal program focused on reducing preventable maternal deaths, with up to $73.4M per year through 2031.
45-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
This bill directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue and expand a program called the IMPROVE Initiative. It would fund research and community-based programs to study why pregnant and postpartum women die or suffer serious complications, including research focused on specific regions and communities where these rates are highest.
Who does it affect?
Pregnant and postpartum women across the United States would be most directly affected. The bill places special focus on communities of color and other groups that experience maternal death and serious complications at higher rates than the national average.
Why does it matter?
Without continued federal direction, the IMPROVE Initiative may not receive dedicated funding or coordination. This bill sets a formal structure for that work to continue from 2026 through 2031.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- Up to $73.4M/year authorized
- Covers 2026–2031
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedNov 20, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Jul 21, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.