Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026

Bonnie Watson Coleman

Democrat · NJ · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• André Carson (D-IN-7)Original· 2026-05-15
• Deborah K. Ross (D-NC-2)Original· 2026-05-15
• Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-4)Original· 2026-05-15
• LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10)Original· 2026-05-15
• Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7)Original· 2026-05-15
• Paul Tonko (D-NY-20)Original· 2026-05-15
• Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY-26)· 2026-05-19

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2026-05-15

Source: Congress.gov

The bill would fund and authorize research to study how traumatic experiences during childbirth and post-traumatic stress disorder affect mothers, newborns, and their families. This research would help doctors and mental health professionals better understand and treat birth-related trauma and its long-term effects on both parents and children. The legislation affects pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and healthcare providers who care for them.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8869 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8869 To amend the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) to authorize research on the impacts of traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder on mothers, infants, and families, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 15, 2026 Mrs. Watson Coleman (for herself, Ms. Ross, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Velazquez, and Mr. Carson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) to authorize research on the impacts of traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder on mothers, infants, and families, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF TRAUMATIC BIRTH EXPERIENCES AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON MOTHERS, INFANTS, AND FAMILIES. (a) Authorization.-- (1) Clarification of eligible award recipients.--Section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-22) is amended by striking ``may award grants'' and inserting ``may award grants to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations''. (2) Research.--Section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-22) is amended-- (A) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (e), respectively; and (B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: ``(b) Research.-- ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct research, or award grants or other support to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations for research, on-- ``(A) how traumatic birth experiences and post- traumatic stress disorder impact short- and long-term maternal mental health; ``(B) the impacts of traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder on mothers, infants, and families; and ``(C) the relationship between severe maternal morbidity and traumatic birth experiences. ``(2) Disaggregation of data.--The Secretary shall disaggregate the findings of the research conducted or supported pursuant to paragraph (1) by race and ethnicity.''. (b) Conforming Changes.--Subsection (c) of section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-22), as redesignated by subsection (a), is further amended-- (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Integrated Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women'' and inserting ``Eligibility and Terms''; (2) in paragraph (1)-- (A) by striking ``a grant under subsection (a)'' and inserting ``an award under subsection (a) or (b)''; and (B) by striking ``(as such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act)''; (3) in paragraph (2)(A)-- (A) by striking ``A grant awarded under subsection (a)'' and inserting ``An award under subsection (a) or (b)''; and (B) by striking ``a grantee under subsection (a)'' and inserting ``an awardee under subsection (a) or (b)''; (4) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``awarding grants under subsection (a)'' and inserting ``making awards under subsection (a) or (b)''; and (5) in paragraph (2)(C), by striking ``grantees'' and inserting ``awardees''. (c) Definition.--Section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-22) is further amended by inserting after subsection (c) (as so redesignated) the following new subsection: ``(d) Definition.--In this section, the terms `State', `Indian Tribe', and `Tribal organization' have the meanings given to those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.''. (d) Funding.--Subsection (e) of section 330P of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254c-22), as redesignated by subsection (a), is further amended-- (1) by striking ``There…

are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section'' and inserting the following: ``(1) Integrated services.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a)''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(2) Research.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (b) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''. SEC. 3. PILOT PROJECT FOR RESEARCH ON THE IMPACTS OF MIDWIFE-DRIVEN CARE MODELS ON TRAUMATIC BIRTH EXPERIENCES AND MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. (a) Grants.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry out a pilot program consisting of awarding grants for research on the extent and mechanisms through which midwife-driven care models, relative to medical care models, impact-- (1) traumatic birth experiences; and (2) maternal mental health outcomes. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Congress an interim report not later than the end of fiscal year 2028, and a final report not later than the end of fiscal year 2030, on each of-- (1) the research conducted or supported pursuant to section 330P(b) of the Public Health Service Act, as added by section 2; and (2) the pilot project conducted pursuant to section 3. <all>

• HR9208HEAR Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-08
• HR9114Gig Is Up Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-06-02
• HR9044Minority Fellowship Program Reauthorization Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-26
• HR9021Stay Cool Act
  Referred to Committee · 2026-05-22