Mothers and Newborns Success Act Introduced in Senate
New legislation aims to reduce maternal and infant death rates through federal grants and research programs.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Pregnancy
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Should the federal government increase funding to address maternal and infant mortality disparities?
U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Lisa Murkowski introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act to address high maternal and infant mortality. The bill authorizes federal funding and research initiatives designed to narrow racial and rural health care disparities across the country.
Why it matters
The legislation seeks to close gaps that currently leave U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates at four times the OECD average. It specifically targets persistent inequities that cause mortality rates among Black women to be three times higher than those for white women.
The legislative framework is grounded in current mortality statistics identifying that U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates are quadruple the OECD average. The proposal acknowledges existing racial disparities, where Black maternal mortality is three times higher than white maternal mortality.
The players
Tim Kaine
U.S. Senator representing Virginia and a co-sponsor of the legislation.
Lisa Murkowski
U.S. Senator representing Alaska and a co-sponsor of the legislation.
Department of Health and Human Services
The federal agency tasked with overseeing the national effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The federal public health institute responsible for enhancing death data tracking and birthing facility standards.
National Institutes of Health
The primary federal agency for biomedical research, which will house the new Maternal Health Research Network.
The details
The bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services coordinate a national effort to reduce deaths by leveraging state innovation grants administered by HRSA. It also directs the CDC to create standardized classifications for birthing facilities and improve the tracking of death certificate data. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a National Maternal Health Research Network at the NIH to expand the study of patient experiences and clinical outcomes.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: Senators Kaine and Murkowski introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act.
Health Landscape
This legislation represents a shift in policy to address the persistent gap between U.S. maternal outcomes and the OECD average. It builds upon existing public health efforts to identify and mitigate racial and geographic disparities in birth outcomes.
As this legislation progresses, you may see changes in how birthing facilities report data and manage quality of care. If you have concerns about your maternity care options, it is worth discussing your facility's safety ratings and patient experience metrics with your doctor.
The takeaway
The proposed legislation highlights a national focus on closing the significant mortality gaps affecting mothers and infants. Patients should monitor the implementation of new facility classification standards as they look to make informed decisions about their prenatal and delivery care.
Further reading
For more on evolving standards of maternity care, visit Pregnancy.
Live Poll
Should the federal government increase funding to address maternal and infant mortality disparities?
