NEST Act

Andy Kim

Democrat · NJ · Senator

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)Original· 2026-09-29

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

2026-09-29

Source: Congress.gov

Plain-English summary pending. Introduced on 2026-09-29. Check back soon — summaries are generated as bills progress through Congress.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 5574 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5574 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of distribution of newborn supply kits to mothers of newborn infants, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 29, 2026 Mr. Kim (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a program of distribution of newborn supply kits to mothers of newborn infants, 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 ``Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit Act'' or the ``NEST Act''. SEC. 2. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS. Part P of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280g et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 399V-8. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS. ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants or enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities for purposes of purchasing or acquiring and distributing newborn supply kits for mothers of newborn infants. ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive an award under subsection (a), an entity shall-- ``(1) be a nonprofit entity that has a multi-State presence, such as a community-based organization, a Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act), a Tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act), or a birthing hospital; and ``(2) agree to, in the distribution of newborn supply kits-- ``(A) partner with local organizations that serve the locations where such newborn supply kits are to be distributed; ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the geographical diversity of the recipients of such newborn supply kits; ``(C) give priority to geographic areas with the greatest need, such as maternity care deserts, rural communities, and communities with the highest maternal mortality rates (such as the Delta region); and ``(D) give priority to mothers or newborn infants whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act) for a family of the size involved. ``(c) Newborn Supply Kit.--For purposes of this section, the term `newborn supply kit' means a kit composed of essential goods to help mothers recover from childbirth and care for newborn infants that includes the following items: ``(1) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and thermometers for newborn infants. ``(2) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, breastfeeding supplies, information on the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline established under section 399V-7, information on the National Women's Health and Breastfeeding Helpline and additional educational material on breastfeeding, information about Federal programs providing support to postpartum women and children, such as the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and evidence-based educational material on the use of low-dose aspirin to address hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. ``(3) A blood pressure monitor. ``(4) Other items necessary to support infant and postpartum health (as determined by the Secretary). ``(d) Report.-- ``(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on which the first grant or cooperative agreement is awarded under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress…

of the grants or cooperative agreements so awarded, including-- ``(A) the number of mothers served under the grants or cooperative agreements during the period covered by the report (disaggregated by race, family income level, and number of individuals in the household); ``(B) the regions in the United States in which newborn supply kits are distributed through such grants or cooperative agreements; ``(C) feedback from mothers who have received newborn supply kits through such grants or cooperative agreements; and ``(D) such other information, as determined necessary by the Secretary. ``(2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which the last grant or cooperative agreement is awarded under this section for fiscal year 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the grants or cooperative agreements awarded under this section with respect to maternal and infant health outcomes. ``(3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this subsection, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means-- ``(A) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; ``(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; ``(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and ``(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.''. <all>

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