HouseH.R. 9065119th Congress
Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2026
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9065 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9065
To provide research on, and services for, individuals with clinical
mental health complications following a pregnancy loss, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 29, 2026
Mr. McDowell (for himself and Mrs. Bice) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide research on, and services for, individuals with clinical
mental health complications following a pregnancy loss, 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 ``Pregnancy Loss Mental Health
Research Act of 2026''.
TITLE I--RESEARCH ON CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A
PREGNANCY LOSS
SEC. 101. EXPANSION AND INTENSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting
through the Director of the National Institutes of Health and the
Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (in this section
referred to as the ``Institute''), shall expand and intensify research
and related activities of the Institute with respect to clinical mental
health complications, including persistent complex bereavement
disorder, following a pregnancy loss (including a miscarriage,
stillbirth, or abortion).
(b) Coordination With Other Institutes.--The Director of the
Institute shall coordinate the activities of the Director under
subsection (a) with similar activities conducted by the other national
research institutes and agencies of the National Institutes of Health
to the extent that such Institutes and agencies have responsibilities
that are related to clinical mental health complications following a
pregnancy loss (including a miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion).
(c) Programs for Pregnancy Loss Conditions.--In carrying out
subsection (a), the Director of the Institute shall conduct or support
research to expand the understanding of the causes of, and to identify
treatment for, mental health conditions following a pregnancy loss,
including the following:
(1) Basic research concerning the etiology and causes of
the conditions.
(2) The development of improved screening and diagnostic
techniques.
(3) Clinical research for the development and evaluation of
new treatments, including new biological agents.
(4) Information and education programs for health care
professionals and the public.
(d) Longitudinal Study.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Institute shall
conduct a national longitudinal study to determine the
prevalence of mental health complications following a pregnancy
loss, and the symptoms, severity, and duration of such cases,
toward the goal of more fully identifying the characteristics
of such cases and developing diagnostic techniques.
(2) Report.--Beginning not later than 3 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter for
the duration of the study under paragraph (1), the Director of
the Institute shall prepare and submit to the Congress a report
on the findings of the study, any progress with respect to the
study, and methodologies used to conduct the study.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--For the purpose of carrying out this title, there
is authorized to be appropriated $4,500,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2027 through 2028.
(b) Limitation.--Any amounts appropriated under this title are
subject to the requirements and limitations under sections 506 and 507
of division H of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law
116-260) in the same manner and to the same extent as if such amounts
for each year were appropriated under such division.
TITLE II--DELIVERY OF SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO MENTAL HEALTH
COMPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A PREGNANCY LOSS
SEC. 201. GRANT PROGRAM FOR CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS FOLLOWING
A PREGNANCY LOSS.
(a) Grants.--Section 317L-1(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 247b-13a(a)) is amended by striking ``pregnant, or have given
birth within the preceding 12 months,'' and inserting ``are pregnant,
have given birth within the preceding 12 months, or have experienced a
pregnancy loss''.
(b) Use of Funds.--Paragraphs (1)(C) and (2)(C) of section 317L-
1(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-13a(d)) are
amended by inserting ``and women who have experienced a pregnancy
loss'' after ``pregnant and postpartum women''.
(c) Dissemination of Best Practices.--Section 317L-1(f) of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247b-13a(f)) is amended by
inserting ``and for women who have experienced a pregnancy loss''
before the period at the end.
(d) Special Rules.--Section 317L-1 of the Public Health Service Act
(42 U.S.C. 247b-13a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following:
``(h) Assistance To Address Clinical Mental Health Conditions
Following a Pregnancy Loss.--
``(1) In general.--In addition to the activities described
in subsection (d), grant funds received by an entity under
subsection (a) may be used for projects for the establishment,
operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient
systems for the delivery of mental health services to
individuals struggling with clinical mental health conditions
following a pregnancy loss.
``(2) Certain activities.--Projects referred to in
paragraph (1) may include providing services for the screening,
diagnosis, and management of mental health conditions,
including persistent complex bereavement disorders, following a
pregnancy loss, including--
``(A) delivering or enhancing outpatient and home-
based health and support services (including case
management, screening, and mental health treatment
services) for individuals with, or who are at risk of
developing, mental health complications following a
pregnancy loss, and delivering or enhancing support
services for the families of such individuals;
``(B) delivering or enhancing inpatient care
management services that ensure the well-being of the
mother and family; and
``(C) improving the quality, availability, and
organization of health care and support services
(including transportation services, attendant care,
homemaker services, day or respite care, and providing
counseling on financial assistance and insurance) for
individuals with mental health conditions following a
pregnancy loss.
``(3) Subgrant recipients.--An entity receiving a grant
under subsection (a) may carry out projects described in
paragraph (1) by making subgrants to an entity (other than a
prohibited entity) that--
``(A) is a public or nonprofit private entity,
which may include--
``(i) a State, Tribal, or local
governmental entity;
``(ii) a public or nonprofit private
hospital, community-based organization,
community health center, migrant health center,
or homeless health center; or
``(iii) other appropriate public or
nonprofit private entity; and
``(B) has experience in providing services for
projects described in paragraph (1).
``(4) Prohibited entities.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of paragraph (3),
the term `prohibited entity' means an entity, including
its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics,
that performs, or provides any funds to any other
entity that performs, abortions, other than--
``(i) in the case of a pregnancy that is
the result of an act of rape or incest; or
``(ii) in the case where a woman suffers
from a physical disorder, physical injury, or
physical illness that would, as certified by a
physician, place the woman in danger of death
unless an abortion is performed, including a
life endangering physical condition caused by,
or arising from, the pregnancy itself.
``(B) End of prohibition.--The definition in
subparagraph (A) shall cease to apply to an entity if
such entity certifies that the entity, including its
affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics, will
not perform, and will not provide any funds to any
other entity that performs, an abortion described in
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Repayment by prohibited entity.--The
Secretary shall seek repayment of any Federal
assistance received by any entity that makes a
certification described in subparagraph (B) and
subsequently violates the terms of such certification.
``(5) Terms and conditions.--An entity receiving a grant
under subsection (a) to carry out projects described in
paragraph (1) shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
``(A) Not more than 5 percent of the grant will be
used for administration, accounting, reporting, and
program oversight functions.
``(B) The grant will be used to supplement and not
supplant funds from other sources related to the
treatment of clinical mental health conditions
following a pregnancy loss.
``(C) The applicant will abide by any limitations
deemed appropriate by the Secretary on any charges to
individuals receiving services pursuant to the grant.
As determined appropriate by the Secretary, such
limitations on charges may vary based on the financial
circumstances of the individual receiving services.
``(D) The grant will not be expended to make
payment for services to the extent that payment has
been made, or can reasonably be expected to be made,
with respect to such services--
``(i) under any State compensation program,
under an insurance policy, or under any Federal
or State health benefits program; or
``(ii) by an entity that provides health
services on a prepaid basis.''.
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