,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cbed  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #bj1          
#bjbe,mrs4 ,britt 7= h]self & ,mr4      
,book]7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions  
,a ,,bill  ,to e/abli% ! ,,improve      
,initiative )9 ! ,national ,in/itutes ( 
,heal?4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may  
be cit$ z ! ,,nih ,implem5t+ a ,mat]nal 
heal? & ,p,regnancy ,outcomes ,vision = 
,ev]yone or ! ,,nih ,,improve ,act4  #b4
 ,,improve ,initiative ,"p ,b ( title   
,,iv ( ! ,public ,heal? ,s]vice ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhd et seq47 is am5d$ by
 add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  #dji,k4       
,,improve initiative  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!   
,director ( ,,nih %all cont9ue to c>ry  
out a program to improve mat]nal heal?  
outcomes1 to be kn[n z ! ,implem5t+ a   
,mat]nal heal? & ,p,regnancy ,outcomes  
,vision = ,ev]yone ,initiative or !     
,,improve ,initiative 7ref]r$ to 9 ?is  
section z ! ,initiative74  7b7          

,objectives ,! ,initiative %all-- 7#a7  
advance rese>* to-- 7,a7 r$uce          
prev5table causes ( mat]nal mortality & 
sev]e mat]nal morbidity2  7,b7 r$uce    
heal? disp>ities relat$ to mat]nal heal?
 outcomes1 includ+ su* disp>ities       
associat$ ) populations )               
disproportionately high rates ( mat]nal 
mortality & sev]e mat]nal morbidity     
relative to ! national rate2 &  7,c7    
improve heal? = pregnant & po/p>tum wom5
 be=e1 dur+1 & aft] pregnancy2  7#b7 use
 an integrat$ approa* to und]/& !       
factors1 includ+ biological1 behavioral1
 & o!r factors1 t affect mat]nal        
mortality & sev]e mat]nal morbidity by  
build+ an evid5ce base = improv$        
outcomes 9 specific regions ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates2 &  7#c7 t>get heal? disp>ities  
associat$ ) mat]nal mortality & sev]e   
mat]nal morbidity by-- 7,a7 implem5t+ & 
evaluat+ community-bas$ int]v5tions =   
disproportionately affect$ wom52 &  7,b7
 id5tify+ risk factors & ! und]ly+      
biological me*anisms associat$ ) lead+  

causes ( mat]nal mortality & sev]e      
mat]nal morbidity 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4    
7c7 ,implem5tation ,! ,director ( ,,nih 
may aw>d grants or ent] into contracts1 
coop]ative agreem5ts1 or o!r            
transactions to c>ry out ?is section4   
7d7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re 
is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry   
out ?is section #gc1djj1jjj = ea* (     
fiscal ye>s #bjbf ?r\gh #bjca4  4