,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #facb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #i1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,mc,bath 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,underwood1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,mr4 ,lewis1 ,ms4 ,sewell of ,alabama1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,ms4 ,moore1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,ms4 ,pressley1 and ,mr4 ,lawson of ,florida7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,financial ,services1 ,agriculture1 ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to address social determinants of health for women in the prenatal and postpartum periods1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,social ,determinants for ,moms ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,task force to coordinate efforts to address social determinants of health for women in the prenatal and postpartum periods 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall convene a task force 7in this section referred to as the ,task ,force7 to develop strategies to coordinate efforts across the ,federal ,government to address social determinants of health for women in the prenatal and postpartum periods4 7b7 ,members ,the members of the ,task ,force shall consist of the following3 7#a7 ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7or the ,secretary's designee74 7#b7 ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development 7or the ,secretary's designee74 7#c7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation 7or the ,secretary's designee74 7#d7 ,the ,secretary of ,agriculture 7or the ,secretary's designee74 7#e7 ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7or the ,administrator's designee74 7#f7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary for the ,administration for ,children and ,families 7or the ,assistant ,secretary's designee74 7#g7 ,the ,administrator of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services 7or the ,administrator's designee74 7#h7 ,the ,director of the ,indian ,health ,service 7or the ,director's designee74 7#i7 ,the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health 7or the ,director's designee74 7#aj7 ,the ,administrator of the ,health ,resources and ,services ,administration 7or the ,administrator's designee74 7#aa7 ,the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,minority ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services 7or the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary's designee74 7#ab7 ,the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary for ,women's ,health of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services 7or the ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary's designee74 7#ac7 ,the ,director of the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention 7or the ,director's designee74 7#ad7 ,a woman who has experienced severe maternal morbidity or a family member of a woman who has suffered a pregnancy-related death4 7#ae7 ,a leader of a community-based organization that addresses maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities4 7#af7 ,a maternal health care provider4 7c7 ,chair ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall select the ,chair of the ,task ,force from among the members of the ,task ,force4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,task ,force shall-- 7#a7 finalize strategies to coordinate efforts across the ,federal ,government to address social determinants of health for women in the prenatal and postpartum periods2 and 7#b7 submit a report on such strategies to the ,congress1 including-- 7,a7 plans for implementing such strategies2 and 7,b7 recommendations on the funding amounts needed by each department and agency to implement such strategies4 7e7 ,termination ,termination under section #ad of the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 shall not apply to the ,task ,force4 #c4 ,requirements for guidance relating to social determinants of health for pregnant women 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services shall issue guidance with respect to how medicaid managed care organizations and ,state ,medicaid programs can use payments made pursuant to section #aijc of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;b7 to address the following issues related to social determinants of health for high-risk mothers during the presumptive eligibility period for pregnant women3 7#a7 ,housing4 7#b7 ,transportation4 7#c7 ,nutrition4 7#d7 ,lactation and other infant feeding options support4 7#e7 ,lead testing and abatement4 7#f7 ,air and water quality4 7#g7 ,car seat installation4 7#h7 ,child care access4 7#i7 ,wellness and stress management programs4 7#aj7 ,other social determinants of health 7as determined by the ,secretary74 7b7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,medicaid managed care organizations ,the term medicaid managed care organization has the meaning given such term in section #aijc7m77#a77;,a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif;b7m77#a77;,a774 7#b7 ,presumptive eligibility period ,the term presumptive eligibility period has the meaning given such term in section #aibj7;b77#a7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acifr-#a7;b77#a774 #d4 ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall establish a new ,housing for ,moms task force within the ,department that shall be responsible for ensuring that women in the prenatal and postpartum periods have safe1 stable1 affordable1 and adequate housing for themselves and their other children4 ,the task force shall-- 7#a7 study how the ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development can support women in the prenatal and postpartum periods and make recommendations to the ,secretary2 7#b7 provide guidance to regional offices of the ,department on measures to ensure that local housing infrastructure is supportive to women in the prenatal and postpartum periods1 including providing information on-- 7,a7 health-promoting housing codes2 7,b7 enforcement of housing codes2 7,c7 proactive rental inspection programs2 7,d7 code enforcement officer training2 and 7,e7 partnerships between regional offices of the ,department and community organizations to ensure housing laws are understood and violations are discovered2 and 7#c7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 submit to the ,congress a report summarizing the activities of the task force4 #e4 ,department of ,transportation 7a7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall submit to ,congress a report containing-- 7#a7 an assessment of transportation barriers preventing individuals from attending prenatal and postpartum appointments1 accessing maternal health care services1 or accessing services and resources related to social determinants of health that affect maternal health outcomes1 such as healthy foods2 7#b7 recommendations on how to overcome such barriers2 and 7#c7 an assessment of transportation safety risks for pregnant individuals and recommendations on how to mitigate such risks4 7b7 ,considerations ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to solutions for-- 7#a7 women living in a health professional shortage area designated under section #ccb of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bed;e72 and 7#b7 women living in areas with high maternal mortality or severe morbidity rates and significant racial or ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 #f4 ,department of ,agriculture 7a7 ,special supplemental nutrition program 7#a7 ,extension of postpartum period ,section #ag7;b77#aj7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf7;b77#aj77 is amended by striking six months and inserting #bd months4 7#b7 ,extension of breastfeeding period ,section #ag7;d77#c77;,a77ii7 of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #adca7;d77#c77;,a77ii77 is amended by striking #a year and inserting #bd months4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that includes an evaluation of the effect of each of the amendments made by this subsection on-- 7,a7 maternal and infant health outcomes1 including racial and ethnic disparities with respect to such outcomes2 7,b7 qualitative evaluations of family experiences under the special supplemental nutrition program under section #ag of the ,child ,nutrition ,act of #aiff 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aghf72 and 7,c7 the cost effectiveness of such special supplemental nutrition program4 7b7 ,grant program for healthy food and clean water for pregnant and postpartum women 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall carry out a grant program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to carry out the nutritional activities described in paragraph 7#d74 7#b7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may provide4 7#c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this subsection1 the ,secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that proposes in an application under paragraph 7#b7 to use the grant funds to carry out activities in areas with-- 7,a7 high maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity rates2 and 7,b7 significant racial or ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 7#d7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this subsection shall use funds under the grant to deliver healthy food1 infant formula1 or clean water to pregnant and postpartum women located in areas that are food deserts1 as determined by the ,secretary using data from the ,food ,access ,research ,atlas of the ,department of ,agriculture4 7#e7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7,a7 an evaluation of the effect of the grant program under this subsection on maternal and infant health outcomes1 including racial and ethnic disparities with respect to such outcomes2 and 7,b7 recommendations with respect to ensuring the activities described in paragraph 7#d7 continue after the grant period funding such activities expires4 7#f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection for fiscal years #bjba through #bjbc4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity includes public entities1 private community entities1 community-based organizations1 ,indian tribes and tribal organizations 7as such terms are defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd771 and urban ,indian organizations 7as such term is defined in section #d of the ,indian ,health ,care ,improvement ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #afjc774 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,agriculture4 #g4 ,environmental study through ,national ,academies 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency shall seek to enter an agreement1 not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 with the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine 7referred to in this section as the ,national ,academies7 under which the ,national ,academies agree to conduct a study on the impacts of water and air quality1 exposure to extreme temperatures1 and pollution levels on maternal and infant health outcomes4 7b7 ,study requirements ,the agreement under subsection 7a7 shall direct the ,national ,academies to make recommendations for-- 7#a7 improving environmental conditions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes2 and 7#b7 reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in such outcomes4 7c7 ,report ,the agreement under subsection 7a7 shall direct the ,national ,academies to complete the study under this section and transmit to the ,congress a report on the results of the study not later than #bd months after the date of enactment of this ,act4 #h4 ,child care access 7a7 ,grant program ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary7 shall award grants to eligible organizations to provide pregnant and postpartum women with free drop-in child care services during prenatal and postpartum appointments4 7b7 ,eligible organizations ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an organization shall-- 7#a7 be an organization that carries out programs providing pregnant and postpartum women with free and accessible drop-in child care services during prenatal and postpartum appointments in areas which the ,secretary determines have a high maternal mortality and severe morbidity rate and significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes2 and 7#b7 not have previously received a grant under this section4 7c7 ,duration ,the ,secretary shall commence the grant program under subsection 7a7 not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7d7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall evaluate each grant awarded under this section to determine the effects of the grant on-- 7#a7 prenatal and postpartum appointment attendance rates2 7#b7 maternal health outcomes with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities in such outcomes2 7#c7 pregnant and postpartum women participating in the funded programs1 and the families of such women2 and 7#d7 cost effectiveness4 7e7 ,report ,not later than ,september #cj1 #bjbc1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,congress a report containing the following3 7#a7 ,a summary of the evaluations under subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,a description of actions the ,secretary can take to ensure that pregnant and postpartum women eligible for medical assistance under a ,state plan under title ,,xix of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aicf et seq47 have access to free drop-in child care services during prenatal and postpartum appointments1 including identification of the funding necessary to carry out such actions4 7f7 ,drop-,in child care services defined ,in this section1 the term drop-in child care services means child care and early childhood education services that are-- 7#a7 delivered at a facility that meets the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations of the ,state or local government in which it is located1 including the licensing of the facility as a child care facility2 and 7#b7 provided in single encounters without requiring full-time enrollment of a person in a child care program4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,to carry out this section1 there is authorized to be appropriated #a1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbc4 #i4 ,grants to ,state1 local1 and ,tribal public health departments addressing social determinants of health for pregnant and postpartum women 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary7 shall award grants to ,state1 local1 and ,tribal public health departments to address social determinants of maternal health in order to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes4 7b7 ,use of funds ,a public health department receiving a grant under this section may use funds received through the grant to-- 7#a7 build capacity and hire staff to coordinate efforts of the public health department to address social determinants of maternal health2 7#b7 develop1 and provide for distribution of1 resource lists of available social services for women in the prenatal and postpartum periods1 which social services may include-- 7,a7 transportation vouchers2 7,b7 housing supports2 7,c7 child care access2 7,d7 healthy food access2 7,e7 nutrition counseling2 7,f7 lactation supports2 7,g7 lead testing and abatement2 7,h7 clean water2 7,i7 infant formula2 7,j7 maternal mental and behavioral health care services2 7,k7 wellness and stress management programs2 and 7,l7 other social services as determined by the public health department2 7#c7 in consultation with local stakeholders1 establish or designate a one-stop resource center that provides coordinated social services in a single location for women in the prenatal or postpartum period2 or 7#d7 directly address specific social determinant needs for the community that are related to maternal health as identified by the public health department1 such as-- 7,a7 transportation2 7,b7 housing2 7,c7 child care2 7,d7 healthy foods2 7,e7 infant formula2 7,f7 nutrition counseling2 7,g7 lactation supports2 7,h7 lead testing and abatement2 7,i7 air and water quality2 7,j7 wellness and stress management programs2 and 7,k7 other social determinants as determined by the public health department4 7c7 ,special consideration ,in awarding grants under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall give special consideration to ,state1 local1 and ,tribal public health departments that-- 7#a7 propose to use the grants to reduce or end racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and severe morbidity rates2 and 7#b7 operate in areas with high rates of-- 7,a7 maternal mortality and severe morbidity2 or 7,b7 significant racial and ethnic disparities in maternal mortality and severe morbidity rates4 7d7 ,guidance on strategies ,in carrying out this section1 the ,secretary shall provide guidance to grantees on strategies for long-term viability of programs funded through this section after such funding ends4 7e7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,by grantees ,as a condition on receipt of a grant under this section1 a grantee shall agree to-- 7,a7 evaluate the activities funded through the grant with respect to-- 7i7 maternal health outcomes with a specific focus on racial and ethnic disparities2 7ii7 the subjective assessment of such activities by the beneficiaries of such activities1 including mothers and their families2 and 7iii7 cost effectiveness and return on investment2 and 7,b7 not later than #ahj days after the end of the period of the grant1 submit a report on the results of such evaluation to the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,by ,secretary ,not later than the end of fiscal year #bjbf1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,congress-- 7,a7 summarizing the evaluations submitted under paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 making recommendations for improving maternal health and reducing or eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes1 based on the results of grants under this section4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 #aj4 ,definition ,in this ,act1 the term postpartum means the one-year period beginning on the last day of a woman's pregnancy4