MOMS Act

Summary#

This bill would add new programs to the Public Health Service Act and change some child support rules. It would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create a public website called pregnancy.gov that lists resources for pregnant and postpartum women and parents of young children. The website must let users find services near their ZIP Code, offer language access, allow users to consent to follow-up contact, and must not list "prohibited entities" (entities that perform, induce, refer for, or counsel in favor of abortions or fund those activities). The website must include many types of resources, including medical care, prenatal diagnostic services, breastfeeding help, adoption and foster care information, material supports, mental health and recovery services, information on alternatives to abortion, and information on abortion risks and child development from conception. HHS must report to Congress about the site within 180 days of launch.

The bill would also require each State to submit an annual list of licensed private child placement (adoption) agencies to HHS for publication on pregnancy.gov. States that do not submit the list could lose certain adoption and guardianship incentive payments.

The bill creates a grant program called "positive alternatives for women" to fund nonprofit pregnancy support organizations that help women carry pregnancies to term and support postpartum care. Eligible grantees may provide information, referrals, and some direct services (medical, nutrition, housing, adoption services, education and employment help, child care, parenting education, and voluntary substance abuse counseling). Grantees must not perform or refer for abortions and must keep privacy protections. Funds may not be used for health coverage that includes abortion.

The bill also authorizes grants or cooperative agreements to buy telehealth equipment for at-home prenatal and postnatal visits in rural, frontier, medically underserved, and Tribal areas. HHS must report to Congress by September 30, 2028, on those activities.

Finally, the bill would amend the Social Security Act to let States establish and enforce child support obligations on behalf of an "unborn child." The proposal says a mother must request support, payments may start as early as the month of conception if she requests it, courts can award retroactive payments, paternity measures cannot be required without the mother's consent, and any paternity measure that risks harm to the unborn child is prohibited. The child support changes take effect two years after enactment.

What it means for you#

  • Pregnant and postpartum people could find a federal online clearinghouse (pregnancy.gov) with local resources and options for follow-up contact.
  • Nonprofit pregnancy support centers may be eligible for grants if they meet program requirements and do not perform or refer for abortions.
  • Health providers in eligible rural, frontier, Tribal, or medically underserved areas could receive telehealth equipment grants to support at-home prenatal and postnatal care.
  • States would need to submit annual lists of licensed private child placement agencies for public posting; failure to do so may affect certain federal adoption/guardianship incentive payments.
  • In States that adopt the child support changes, a mother could request child support on behalf of an unborn child, including possible retroactive payments and a start date as early as the month of conception, subject to the rules in the bill. Paternity measures require the mother's consent and must not endanger the unborn child.

Expenses#

  • The pregnancy.gov website provision authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
  • The telehealth equipment grants are authorized at "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
  • The positive alternatives grants are to be funded from unobligated amounts in the Department of Health and Human Services' Nonrecurring Expenses Fund.
  • No specific total cost estimates or budget figures are included in the bill text. No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill states its purpose is to "provide more opportunities for mothers to succeed" by creating a centralized resource website, supporting nonprofit pregnancy assistance programs, expanding telehealth for prenatal and postnatal care in underserved areas, and enabling States to establish child support obligations on behalf of unborn children. The bill's grant and reporting provisions are framed as ways to improve access to services and to monitor program activity.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.