SWHR Legislation Tracker

SWHR tracks and endorses federal legislation that aligns with our mission to advance women’s health through science, policy, and education while promoting research on biological sex differences to optimize women’s health.

* Designates legislation formally endorsed by SWHR

H.R. 2007 — Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2021 *

117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY-9)

Cosponsors: 10D

Summary of bill: Improving funding for research and increasing education about uterine fibroids.

Specific to women’s health: Uterine fibroids are a significant public health issue affecting about 26 million American women, with Black women at increased risk for the disease compared to white women.

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H.R. 959 / S. 346 — Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act *

117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14)

Cosponsors: 118D, 0R

Summary of bill: To end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes.

Specific to women’s health: The United States leads the developed world in maternal mortality rates, but the majority of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. This maternal health crisis is marked by significant racial disparities, with Black women three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related causes.

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S. 411 — MOMMA’s Act *

117th Congress

Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Cosponsors: Duckworth (D-IL), Shaheen (D-NH), Brown (D-OH), Stabenow (D-MI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Klobuchar (D-MN), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Sanders (I-VT)

Summary of bill: To improve Federal efforts with respect to the prevention of maternal mortality, and for other purposes.

Specific to women’s health: “To develop and implement, through a robust, multi-stakeholder process, maternal safety bundles to assist States, perinatal quality collaboratives, and health care systems in aligning national, State, and hospital-level quality improvement efforts to improve maternal health outcomes, specifically the reduction of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity”

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S. 4269 — Mothers and Newborns Success Act *

116th Congress, has not been reintroduced in 117th Congress

Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

Cosponsors: Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

Summary of bill: To take certain actions to improve, and reduce racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in, maternal health outcomes. Bill provides statutory authority for grants that support state efforts to reduce disparities in maternal health; and increased access to maternal and obstetrics care in rural areas, including through telehealth.

Specific to women’s health: Addresses critical needs in the fight to reduce and prevent maternal and infant mortality and will help to close nationwide racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities in maternal health outcomes.

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H.R. 1474/S. 56 — Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act

117th Congress

Sponsors: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

Cosponsors:
House: 41D, 5R
Senate: Collins (R-MA), Sinema (D-AZ), Shaheen (D-NH), Reed (D-RI), Tillis (R-NC), Van Hollen (D-MD), Smith (D-MN)

Summary of bill: Authorizes grants for training and support services for families and caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia.

Specific to women’s health: ““(e) Coordination.—The Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the Office on Women’s Health and the Director of the Office of Minority Health in order to ensure that women, minorities, and patients who live in medically underserved communities are able to benefit from the training and support services funded through grants awarded under subsection (b).”

H.R. 1370 — Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID–19 Act of 2021

117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7

Cosponsors: 26D, 0R

Summary of Bill: To require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect and report certain data concerning COVID-19.Primarily focuses on combating racial inequalities when it comes to COVID testing.

Specific to women’s health:

  • Focuses on providing a clear understanding of how COVID–19 impacts marginalized racial and ethnic communities; without clear understanding there will be exacerbated risk of endangering the most historically vulnerable i.e Black women
  • Determine how to best use such data to promote health equity across the United States and reduce racial and other demographic disparities in health outcomes

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H.R. 8027/S. 4769 — Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2020

116th Congress, has not been reintroduced in the 117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)

Cosponsors:
House: 23D, 0R
Senate: Booker (D-NJ), Harris (D-CA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Smith (D-MN)

Summary of bill: To improve the public health response to addressing maternal mortality and morbidity during the COVID–19 public health emergency. $100,000,000 for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Specific to women’s health:

  • Inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in vaccine and therapeutic development for COVID-19
  • Public health communication regarding maternal care during COVID-19
  • Emergency funding for federal data collection, surveillance and research on maternal health outcomes during COVID-19

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H.R. 1800/S. 699 — Women and Lung Cancer Research and Preventive Services Act of 2021

117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Cosponsors:
House: Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Bonamici (D-OR-1), Dingell (D-MI-12), Houlahan (D-PA-6), Van Drew (R-NJ-2)
Senate: Manchin (D-WV), Feinstein (D-CA), Capito (R-WV)

Summary of bill: Requires a review to evaluate and identify opportunities for the acceleration for research on women and lung cancer, greater access to preventative services, and strategic public awareness and educational campaigns.

Specific to women’s health:

  • Research strategies to explore the differences in women with respect to lung cancer risk factors, incidence, histology, and response to treatment are justified and necessary
  • Foster advances in imaging technology to improve risk assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and the simultaneous application of other preventive services
  • National public education and awareness campaign on women and lung cancer and the importance of early detection of lung cancer

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Jeanette Acosta Invest in Women’s Health Act of 2021

(Summary of bill is from 116th Congress)

Sponsor: Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

Cosponsors: 12D, 0R

Summary of bill:  Provides women with increased access to preventive and life-saving cancer screening, including clinical breast exams and cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancer screening, provided by leading women’s health care providers.

Specific to women’s health:

  • “Prevention and cancer screening are the best approaches to protecting women from cancer and ensuring early detection and life-saving treatment. Many deaths from breast and cervical cancers could be avoided if cancer screening rates and diagnostic care and services increased among women at risk.”
  • “Women’s health care providers that are primarily engaged in family planning services, such as Planned Parenthood health centers, provide necessary screening tests, education, and information to women, especially women of color who face the highest risks of breast cancer and other gynecologic cancers.”

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H.R. 1439 — Expanded Genetic Screening Act of 2021

117th Congress

Sponsor: Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA-14)

Cosponsor: Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Grijalva (D-AZ-3), Scanlon (D-PA-5), Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), Cole (R-OK-4), DeGette (D-CO-1)

Summary of bill: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage under the Medicaid program of non-invasive prenatal genetic screening.

Specific to women’s health: non-invasive prenatal genetic screening for pregnant women of all age groups

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* Designates legislation formally endorsed by SWHR

Resources from Peer Organizations

Maternal Health Bill Tracker, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs