Summary#
This bill, called the Kira Johnson Act, would fund grants, training, studies, and hospital programs aimed at reducing maternal deaths and serious birth-related health problems among Black and other underserved pregnant and postpartum individuals. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to community-based organizations to advance maternal health equity, to fund training programs that teach respectful, culturally and linguistically appropriate, trauma-informed care for all employees in maternity care settings, and to fund hospital-based respectful maternity care compliance programs that collect reports and data on incidents of bias or racism. The bill also directs studies by the National Academies and the Department to identify effective training and program designs, and requires annual and periodic reports to Congress and the public.
What it means for you#
- Community organizations that serve groups with higher rates of maternal harm could apply for grants to start or expand programs that support pregnant and postpartum people.
- Hospitals and birth centers could apply for grants to set up respectful maternity care compliance programs that accept patient reports of bias and publicly report certain data.
- Health care workers and staff in maternity settings (including front desk staff, sonographers, emergency staff, and clinicians) could benefit from, or be asked to take part in, periodic training programs paid for by grants.
- Colleges, training programs, and historically Black colleges or minority-serving institutions could develop or receive funding for training curricula.
- Federal agencies will study program effectiveness and report findings to Congress; a Government Accountability Office report will review how many sites establish compliance programs and related impacts.
Expenses#
- Community-based organization grants: authorized at $100,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031.
- Respectful maternity care training grants: authorized at $5,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031.
- Grants for hospital respectful maternity care compliance programs: authorized as "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 — no specific total provided.
- Other costs for studies, reports, and administrative activities are described but exact appropriations beyond those listed above: No publicly available information.
Proponents' View#
The bill states its purpose is to prevent maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity among Black pregnant and postpartum individuals and other underserved populations by funding community programs, training to reduce bias and racism, culturally and linguistically congruent care, and hospital compliance programs. Supporters would point to grant funding, technical assistance, periodic training, data collection, and independent studies as ways to improve patient experience and outcomes for groups with elevated risks.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.