Social Determinants Legislation from the 117th Congress
House of Representatives
H.R. 56 – Patient Access to Medical Foods Act
- Introduced by Rep. Biggs (R-AZ), this bill would amend the Orphan Drug Act with respect to the definition of medical food and expand access to these products, including to Medicare Part D and TRICARE patients.
H.R. 159 – Community Parks Revitalization Act
- Introduced by Rep. Sires (D-NJ), this bill would authorize the Secretary of HUD to establish a program enabling communities to better leverage resources to address health, economic development, and conservation concerns through needed investments in parks, recreational areas, facilities, and programs.
H.R. 240 – Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Brownley (D-CA) and 24 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of Labor to prioritize the provision of services to homeless veterans with dependents in carrying out homeless veterans reintegration programs. This bill passed the House on May 18, 2021 and is now being considered by the Senate.
H.R. 321 – FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries (FEED) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Thompson (D-CA) and 30 cosponsors, this bill would authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve state, local, and Indian tribal government plans to partner with small and mid-size restaurants and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals to individuals in need, and to waive certain matching fund requirements.
H.R. 379 – Improving Social Determinants of Health Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Barragan (D-CA) and 30 cosponsors, this bill would authorize the Director of the CDC to carry out a Social Determinants of Health Program to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities by coordinating CDC social determinants of health activities, and would improve capacity of public health agencies and community organizations to address social determinants of health.
H.R. 433 – Family Support Services for Addiction Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Trone (D-MD) and Meuser (R-PA), this bill would establish a grant program for family community organizations that provide support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families. This bill passed the House on May 12, 2021 and is now being considered by the Senate.
H.R. 816 – Restoring Communities Left Behind Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Kaptur (D-OH) and 53 cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grant program to help revitalize certain localities. Specifically, the bill would create a $5 billion program to award competitive grants to eligible local partnerships to carry out neighborhood revitalization support activities to include restoring damaged or vacant properties for affordable housing, providing skills training programs in low-income areas, and improving parks, sidewalks, and other improvements that impact quality of life.
H.R. 876 – Improving Housing Incomes for Veterans Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Gonzalez (R-OH), Rice (D-NY), Joyce (R-OH), Johnson (R-OH) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide certain information to Department of Veterans Affairs medical center staff and homelessness service providers regarding the Coordinated Entry program.
H.R. 943 – Social Determinants for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Reps. McBath (D-GA) and 33 cosponsors, this bill would address social determinants of maternal health with respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals.
- Introduced by Rep. Pallone (D-NJ), this bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study on the effect of financial and credit counseling for homeless veterans and veterans experiencing housing instability. This bill passed the House on June 15, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
H.R. 1313 – Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Ryan (D-OH) and 18 cosponsors, this bill would establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts.
H.R. 1678 – Parks, Jobs and Equity Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Barragan (D-CA), Turner (R-OH), Neguse (D-CO) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization and park development for communities impacted by COVD-19.
H.R. 1706 – Emergency Homelessness Assistance Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Pressley (D-MA), Waters (D-CA), Tlaib (D-MI), Neguse (D-CO), and Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), this bill would provide emergency homelessness assistance to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
H.R. 1719 – Emergency Tribal Housing Assistance Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Vargas (D-CA) and Waters (D-CA), this bill would provide homelessness and supportive services assistance for Native Americans to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
H.R. 1919 – Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Gomez (D-CA) and 77 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to treat attendance at an institution of higher education the same as work for the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Specifically, the bill would expand SNAP benefit eligibility to college students attending two- and four-year universities part-time or more and some graduate students who also meet traditional SNAP income and eligibility requirements to address the hunger crisis affecting such students.
H.R. 2011 – Wise Investment in Children (WIC) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. DeLauro (D-CT), Sanchez (D-CA) Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Schrier (D-WA) and Young (R-AK), this bill would increase the age of eligibility for children to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2028 – Fostering Postsecondary Success for Foster and Homeless Youth Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Kildee (D-MI), Bacon (R-NE) and 45 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize a program to recognize institutions of higher education that offer outstanding services and programs for foster and homeless youth.
H.R. 2080 – Seniors Access to Vaccines Ensured (SAVE) Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Bishop (D-GA) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide for temporary coverage of certain transportation services for certain individuals under the Medicare program. The bill would create a temporary Medicare non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) benefit during the length of the COVID-19 public health emergency to transport seniors to and from COVID vaccination appointments.
H.R. 2126 – Housing Supply and Affordability Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Beatty (D-OH), and McBath (D-GA), this bill would authorize a grant program for the development and implementation of housing supply and affordability plans. The bill would create a federal housing policy grant program that would provide funding for planning and implementing policies that increase housing supply, increase housing affordability, and reduce barriers to housing development. The bill would require these housing policies to prioritize avoiding displacement.
H.R. 2190 – Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Brownley (D-CA) and nine cosponsors, this bill would make permanent certain programs (including the Health Care for Homeless Veterans program and the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, among others) that assist homeless veterans and other veterans with special needs.
H.R. 2201 – Computer and Internet Access Equity Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Davis (D-IL), Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Deutch (D-FL), this bill would provide tax credits to low- to moderate-income individuals for certain computer and education costs, and direct the Federal Communications Commission to modify the requirements for the Lifeline program to provide increased support. The bill would help make internet and broadband more affordable to help bridge the digital divide.
H.R. 2305 – Senior Accessible Housing Act
- Introduced by Reps. Crist (D-FL), Delgado (D-NY), and Lawrence (D-MI), this bill would provide a refundable tax credit to seniors who install modifications on their residences that would enable them to age in place.
H.R. 2376 – Excellence in Recovery Housing Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Trone (D-MD), Chu (D-CA), Levin (D-CA), and McKinley (R-WV), this bill would provide for increased oversight of recovery housing. Specifically, the bill would boost the availability of housing nationwide for those in recovery from substance use disorder.
H.R. 2419 – Affordable Housing for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Mann (R-KS) and 13 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would expand and extend Department of Veterans Affairs assistance for homeless veterans. The bill aims to increase the number of affordable housing options, especially in urban areas, to help reduce the recent uptick in veteran homelessness.
H.R. 2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (bipartisan)*
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 made consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022 and provided for emergency assistance for the situation in Ukraine. Notably, the package included several key social determinants of health, maternal health, and health equity provisions, a summary of which can be found here. President Biden signed this bill into law on March 15, 2022.
H.R. 2483 – Build More Housing Near Transit Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Peters (D-CA) and 10 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend title 49, United States Code, to include affordable housing incentives in certain capital investment grants. Specifically, the bill would encourage construction of low and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations and would provide incentives for transit applicants who meet requirements related to building more housing along the future transit corridor.
H.R. 2503 – Social Determinants Accelerator Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Bustos (D-IL), Cole (R-OK), McGovern (D-MA), Mullin (R-OK), and 19 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS to establish an interagency council on social determinants of health.
H.R. 2573 – Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. DelBene (D-WA), Beyer (D-VA), Walorski (R-IN) and Wenstrup (R-OH), this bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the low-income housing credit.
H.R. 2664 – Green New Deal for Public Housing Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and 22 cosponsors, this bill would provide economic empowerment opportunities in the United States through modernization of public housing. The bill would strengthen public housing communities, improve living conditions for residents, and create jobs by addressing the housing and climate crisis.
H.R. 2768 – American Housing and Economic Mobility Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Cleaver (D-MO) and nine cosponsors, this bill would make housing more affordable. The bill would help produce nearly three million new housing units, reduce rents by 10 percent with no deficit impact, and make important steps to address the racial wealth gap and reduce exclusionary zoning laws.
H.R. 2837 – Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Cohen (D-TN) and 37 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disqualification to receive benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act and benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; and to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days shall be considered to be a household for purposes of such Act.
H.R. 2851 – Affordable Housing Preservation Act
- Introduced by Reps. Omar (D-MN) and Maloney (D-NY), this bill would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a demonstration program to evaluate the effectiveness of Department assisting nonprofit organizations to develop, acquire, rehabilitate, convert, or preserve affordable housing that is governed by the residents of such housing. The bill would fund the creation of community-owned cooperatives for low-income people, helping to alleviate the affordable housing crisis while allowing people to communally own the homes they live in.
H.R. 2924 – Transit to Trails Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Gomez (D-CA) and 14 cosponsors, this bill would establish a program to award grants to entities that provide transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities and rural communities to green spaces. The bill takes an equitable approach to help communities nationwide with the highest need for better sustainable public transportation options, making access to these public lands more affordable and accessible.
H.R. 2992 – Keep Your Home and Prevent Homelessness Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Torres (D-CA) and 16 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to authorize use of amounts under the Troubled Assets Relief Program to be used for assistance under the Housing Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
H.R. 3006 – Promoting Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency Act
- Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC), this bill would ensure that residents of certain housing projects converted under the rental assistance demonstration of the Department of Housing and Urban Development maintain eligibility for assistance under certain economic self-sufficiency programs.
H.R. 3100 – Student Food Security Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Reps. Hayes (D-CT), Lawson (D-FL), and Torres (D-CA), this bill would expand the eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and establish college student food insecurity demonstration programs. This bill was later introduced by Rep. Hayes (D-CT) and 14 cosponsors on October 15, 2021 (H. R. 5591).
H.R. 3108 – The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-IL) and Upton (R-MI), this bill would expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program and combat health disparities.
H.R. 3115 – Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN) and 39 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children. The bill would permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of income, eliminate school meal debt, and strengthen local economies by incentivizing local food procurement.
H.R. 3293 – Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Program Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Katko (R-NY), Dingell (D-MI), Tlaib (D-MI), and Harder (D-CA), this bill would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Act to establish programs to assist low-income households in maintaining access to drinking water and wastewater services.
H.R. 3372 – One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Bass (D-CA) and Reschenthaler (R-PA), this bill would authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to operate one-stop reentry centers. Specifically, this bill would create resource centers to support people transitioning from incarceration and connect them with services needed to reintegrate into their communities. This bill passed the House on December 1, 2022.
H.R. 3453 – Anti-Hunger Pandemic Recovery Act
- Introduced by Rep. Velazquez (D-NY) and six cosponsors, this bill would provide community-based nonprofit feeding and anti-hunger groups with funding to partners with small and mid-sized restaurants to expand meal access and delivery for low-income and vulnerable populations during, and through one year following the end of, a pandemic or public health emergency.
H.R. 3467 – Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. McBath (D-GA) and Stewart (R-UT), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to support research and programmatic efforts that will build on previous research on the effects of, adverse childhood experiences.
H.R. 3502 – Increasing Parent Choice and Preventing the Child Care Cliff Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Hern (R-OK), this bill would prevent the child care cliff and increase parental choice for low-income families.
H.R. 3519 – Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Reps. Levin (D-CA) and Hayes (D-CT), this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a permanent, nationwide electronic benefit transfer program for children during school closures.
H.R. 3667 – Targeting Child Care Funds Based on Poverty Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Miller (R-WV) and Walberg (R-MI), this bill would target Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) funding to states based on the number of children in poverty within each state.
H.R. 3680 – Promoting Affordable Housing Near Transit Act
- Introduced by Rep. Smith (D-WA), this bill would provide an opportunity for transit entities to partner with community-driven organizations and utilize unused land for affordable transit-accessible housing. It would establish a process by which a non-profit organization or other third-party entity can receive a land transfer from a federal transit grant recipient at zero cost for the purposes of affordable housing.
H.R. 3772 – Housing is a Human Right Act
- Introduced by Reps. Jayapal (D-WA), Meng (D-NY), and 15 cosponsors, this bill would address root causes of homelessness, meet the needs of community members experiencing harms from homelessness, transition communities towards providing housing for all, end penalization of homelessness, and ensure full democratic participation and inclusion of persons experiencing homelessness.
H.R. 3783 – Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. McGovern (D-MA) and Herrera Beutler (R-WA), this bill would provide for the coverage of medically necessary food and vitamins and individual amino acids for digestive and inherited metabolic disorders under federal health programs and private health insurance, to ensure state and federal protection for existing coverage, and other purposes.
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and eight cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to support the development and implementation of programs using data analysis to identify and facilitate strategies to improve outcomes for children in geographic areas with a high prevalence of trauma from exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
- Introduced by Reps. Young (R-AK), Stefanik (R-NY), Pappas (D-NH) and five bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants for transportation of highly rural veterans to medical care through the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program. This program helps provide no-cost transportation services to VA or VA-authorized health care facilities to veterans in highly rural areas.
H.R. 3822 – Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Gomez (D-CA) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would eliminate asset or resource limits employed by certain federally funded means-tested public assistance programs (TANF, SNAP, and LIHEAP). The bill would also raise the asset limitation for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from $2,000 to $10,000 for an individual and from $3,000 to $20,000 for a couple, indexed to inflation.
H.R. 3891 – Trafficking Survivors Housing Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Beatty (D-OH) and Wagner (R-MO), this bill would require a study and report on the housing and service needs of survivors of trafficking and individuals at risk for trafficking. The bill would focus on improving housing and homeless services for trafficking survivors to help them rebuild their lives.
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Bilirakis (R-FL), this bill would issue and disseminate guidance to States to clarify strategies to address social determinants of health under the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. This bill passed the House on December 8, 2021.
- Introduced by Reps. Curtis (R-UT) and Cardenas (D-CA), this bill would address social determinants of health in the calculation of medical loss ratios.
H.R. 3997 – Caregivers, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Kids Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Hayes (D-CT), Bacon (R-NE), and Ross (D-NC), this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to enhance direct certification under the school lunch program. Specifically, this bill would support more children facing food insecurity by ensuring that local education agencies can provide automatic eligibility for children living with grandparents or other caregivers.
H.R. 4026 – Social Determinants of Health Data Analysis Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Burgess (R-TX) and Blunt Rochester (D-DE), this bill would require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to Congress a report on actions taken by the Secretary of HHS to address social determinants of health. This bill passed the House on November 30, 2021.
H.R. 4074 – Addressing Social Determinants in Medicare Advantage Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL) and Blumenauer (D-OR), this bill would expand the availability of supplemental benefits to certain Medicare Advantage enrollees. Specifically, the bill would encourage Medicare Advantage plans to offer supplemental benefits to address social determinants of health and would allow such plans the flexibility to provide targeted supplemental benefits to low-income patients and other beneficiaries who are at high risk of experiencing poor health outcomes due to SDOH factors.
H.R. 4077 – Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC) and 86 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan. The bill would expand and strengthen the SNAP benefits for vulnerable community members by raising the baseline benefit for all SNAP households, allocating more funds to those with large medical and housing expenses, and increasing access to the program.
H.R. 4183 – Public Transportation Accessibility Study Act
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN), this bill would require the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report to Congress on the accessibility of public transportation for residents of areas of concentrated poverty.
H.R. 4237 – Tenant Empowerment Act
- Introduced by Reps. Pressley (D-MA), Waters (D-CA), Tlaib (D-MI), and Wilson (D-FL), this bill would protect and empower residents of certain federally assisted rental housing. Specifically, the bill would strengthen HUD tenant protections and provide them with the tools necessary to improve the quality of their homes.
H.R. 4266 – Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act
- Introduced by Rep. Hern (R-OK) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would prevent energy poverty in at-risk communities. Specifically, the bill will ensure that energy remains affordable and accessible to all Americans and that at-risk communities will not be left behind in the process of adopting more clean energy sources.
H.R. 4275 – Ensuring Phone and Internet Access for SNAP Recipients Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Luria (D-VA) and Katko (R-NY), this bill would provide for certain reports on enrollment in the Lifeline program. Specifically, the bill would lower the cost of phone and internet access for households that benefit from SNAP. This bill passed the House on November 17, 2022.
H.R. 4455 – WIC for Kids Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Hayes (D-CT) and Resident Commissioner Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), this bill would extend certain certification periods for the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children.
H.R. 4464 – Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Lieu (D-CA), this bill would fight homelessness in the United States by authorizing a grant program within the Health Resources and Services Administration for housing programs that offer comprehensive services and intensive case management for homeless individuals and families.
H.R. 4496 – Ending Homelessness Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA) and 27 cosponsors, this bill would provide a path to end homelessness in the United States.
H.R. 4497 – Housing as Infrastructure Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA) and 29 cosponsors, this bill would facilitate the development of affordable housing.
H.R. 4510 – Health Enterprise Zones Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Brown (D-MD) and six cosponsors, this bill would provide for the designation of areas as Health Enterprise Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas. The bill would close gaps in the health care system that have left behind minorities and underserved communities by creating incentives to improve health care access, public health and attract health care practitioners to work in health-disadvantaged communities.
H.R. 4543 – Coordinating Assistance for TANF Recipients Act
- Introduced by Reps. Walorski (R-IN), this bill would provide for the conduct of demonstration projects to provide coordinated case management services for TANF recipients. It would allow states to test methods of coordinating case management between multiple programs for such individuals and their families.
H.R. 4554 – Care That’s Fair Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Butterfield (D-NC) and Joyce (R-PA), this bill would provide grants to support for States to identify and act on racial disparities. Specifically, the bill will empower states, through grant funding from CMS, to utilize medical claims, clinical data, and social data to address racial disparities, social determinants of health, and maternal and infant mortality.
H.R. 4583 – Supporting Positive Outcomes After Release Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Scott (D-VA), this bill would expand the requirement for states to suspend, rather than terminate, an individual’s eligibility for medical assistance under the State Medicaid plan while the individual is an inmate of a public institution, to ensure such individuals have access to addiction treatment, mental health services, and medications in the critical, immediate days and weeks after release.
- Introduced by Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) and nine cosponsors, this bill would divert certain parents of minor children, expectant parents, and other caregivers from incarceration and into comprehensive programs providing resources, services, and training to those individuals and their families. The bill is designed to keep families together and reduce recidivism.
H.R. 4759 – Revitalizing Downtowns Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Gomez (D-CA), Larson (D-CT), and Kildee (D-MI), this bill would create the Qualified Office Conversion Tax Credit to convert unused office buildings into residential, commercial, and mixed-used properties. The bill would invest in America’s changing downtowns and business districts following the COVID-19 crisis, offer incentives for redevelopment, encourage the expansion of affordable housing options, and more.
H.R. 4791 – Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA) and 102 cosponsors, this bill would extend the moratorium on residential evictions enacted as a result of COVID-19 through the end of 2021.
H.R. 4904 – Emergency Child and Adult Nutrition Assistance Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Adams (D-NC), Trone (D-MD), Newman (D-IL), and five other cosponsors, this bill would provide for emergency operational cost reimbursements for child nutrition programs for certain additional months. The bill would extend COVID-19 relief for both the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the school food authorities through the end of the 2021 school year to help cover their operational costs, and would extend operational funds through September 2022.
H.R. 4933 – Helping Our Most Elderly (HOME) Secure Meals Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Vela (D-TX) and Katko (R-NY), this bill would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a competitive grant program to enable area agencies on aging and local nutrition service providers to purchase, customize, or repair vehicles with hot and cold food storage for delivering meals to older individuals through the Congregate Nutrition Program or the Home-Delivered Nutrition Program.
H.R. 4948 – Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Reps. Cleaver (D-MO), Mfume (D-MD), DeGette (D-CO), and Evans (D-PA), this bill would authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 5005 – Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults (SILO) Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Sanchez (D-CA), this bill would provide grants and training to support area agencies on aging or other community-based organizations to address social isolation among vulnerable alder adults and people with disabilities.
H.R. 5025 – Veterans Job Training Act
- Introduced by Rep. Neguse (D-CO), this bill would increase and extend the authorization of appropriations for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, which includes job training and placement services for homeless veterans. The program’s core objectives are to provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address problems facing homeless veterans.
- Introduced by Reps. Ruiz (D-CA) and Bucshon (R-IN), this bill would improve diversity in clinical trials and data collection for COVID-19 and future public health threats to address social determinants of health.
H.R. 5228 – Public Transportation Expansion Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Johnson (D-GA), Williams (D-GA), Bourdeaux (D-GA), and Garcia (D-IL), this bill would provide for competitive grants to support access to affordable housing and the enhancement of mobility for residents in disadvantaged communities or neighborhoods. Specifically, the bill would create a Federal grant program to fund public transportation expansion to serve low-income communities and connect affordable housing with transit networks.
H.R. 5257 – Device Access for Every American Act*
- Introduced by Rep. McEachin (D-VA), this bill would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program through which eligible individuals may obtain up to $400 in vouchers for the purchase of connected devices such as laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. The bill would ensure every American can participate and thrive in the digital economy, regardless of income or zip code.
H.R. 5301 – Combating Veteran Homelessness Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Torres (D-NY) and Meijer (R-MI), this bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide technical assistance to recipients of grants for supportive services for very low-income families in permanent housing and comprehensive service programs.
H.R. 5370 – Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. McGovern (D-MA), Walorski (R-IN), Pingree (D-ME), and Evans (D-PA), this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a demonstration program to assess the effects of a hospital providing to qualified individuals medically tailored home-delivered meals.
H.R. 5385 – Affordable Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN), this bill would make housing affordable. Among other provisions to address homelessness and housing, the bill would establish the Navigation Center Pilot Program, which would provide funding to state and local governments to create low-barrier navigation centers for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Funds would be used to provide intensive management services, including connections to health care, permanent housing, and more, in addition to allowing an individual or family experiencing homelessness to stay at the center for no more than 90 continuous days per 180-day period.
H.R. 5724 – White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. McGovern (D-MA) and Walorski (R-IN), this bill would authorize and convene a second national White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger and Health. The proposed second conference would take a whole-of-government approach to ending hunger and combatting nutrition insecurity, and would feature voices of those with lived experiences.
H.R. 5783 – Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Mann (R-KS) and Pappas (D-NH), this bill would improve homeless veterans reintegration programs, which offer customized employment and training services to homeless or at-risk-of homelessness veterans to address their specific barriers to employment.
H.R. 5919 – Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Bonamici (D-OR), Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and 14 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the child and adult care food program, which serves low-income children in child care centers, Head Start and afterschool programs, homeless shelters, and other settings. Specifically, the bill would make more nutritious meals and snacks available to children in care settings to address food insecurity.
H.R. 5937 – Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Meng (D-NY) and 32 cosponsors, this bill would increase language access to mental health services at certain health centers. The bill would improve access to affordable services at community health centers and employ qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other than English.
- Introduced by Reps. Kildee (D-MI), Walorski (R-IN), Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Hudson (R-NC), this bill would establish a program to assist states in establishing or enhancing community integration network infrastructure for health and social services.
H.R. 6251 – Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. McGovern (D-MA), Newhouse (R-WA), Pingree (D-ME) and Walorski (R-IN), this bill would amend the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to clarify and expand food donation. Specifically, the bill would address food insecurity and encourage food donation efforts by extending liability protections to food donors when food is either given directly to a person in need or when a recipient pays a deeply reduced cost.
H.R. 6272 – College Student Hunger Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Lawson (D-FL) and 39 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to expand the eligibility of students to participate in SNAP.
H.R. 6287 – Homeless Children and Youth Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Sherrill (D-NJ) and 10 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments and priorities of local communities. The legislation also makes a fic to align the definition of homelessness across federal agencies to improve access to services and assistance, and to help communities and organizations pursue strategies to reduce homelessness.
H.R. 6302 – Protecting the Health of America’s Older Adults Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Frankel (D-FL), Bilirakis (R-FL), and Dingell (D-MI), this bill would provide for the establishment of a program at the CDC with respect to healthy aging and to authorize grants to health departments to carry out healthy aging programs.
H.R. 6307 – Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Kilmer (D-WA) and Mace (R-SC), this bill would establish a pilot program to build tiny homes for homeless veterans. Specifically, the legislation would establish a new pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem program that can create more individualized transitional homes ad provide more affordable housing options for veterans.
- Introduced by Rep. Carter (D-LA), this bill would establish a pilot program awarding competitive grants to organizations administering entrepreneurial development programming to formerly incarcerated individuals to reduce recidivism and provide economic stability as they rejoin the economy.
H.R. 6357 – Afterschool Meals Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Brown (D-OH) and Hayes (D-CT), this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to provide meals and meal supplements for children in afterschool care.
H.R. 6397 – Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Cole (R-OK), Titus (D-NV), Mullin and (R-OK), this bill would establish a grant program to award grants to public institutions of higher education located in a covered state to expand or support graduate education for physicians in states with the most severe primary care provider shortages. This could include the development and implementation of curricula that considers social determinants of health in care plan development, among other areas.
H.R. 6453 – Prevent Homelessness Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. Lieu (D-CA), this bill would establish a Housing Stabilization Fund to provide emergency housing assistance to extremely low-income renters and homeowners.
- Introduced by Reps. Adams (D-NC), Brown (D-OH), and Hayes (D-CT), this bill would require that certain information with respect to nutrition assistance programs be annually disclosed. Specifically, institutions of higher education that participate in federal student aid programs will be required to provide students with information on the most recent student eligibility guidance for SNAP and WIC, contact information for state agencies that administer the programs, and information on food pantries, food assistance facilities, and other services available to enrolled students.
H.R. 6531 – Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Clyburn (D-SC), Rogers (R-KY), Lee (D-CA), and Cohen (D-TN), this bill would provide an increased allocation of funding under certain programs for assistance in areas of persistent poverty. This bill passed the House on May 18, 2022.
H.R. 6602 – Affordable Housing Resident Services Act
- Introduced by Rep. Aguilar (D-CA) and 14 cosponsors, this bill would authorize funding of enriched resident services in federally assisted affordable housing. Specifically, the legislation creates a five-year grant program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide yearly funding to affordable housing property owners for resident supportive services, such as elderly care, financial literacy training, after school programs, and more.
H.R. 6613 – Keeping School Meals Flexible Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Spanberger (D-VA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Katko (R-NY), this bill would give USDA continued authority to establish, grant, or extend child nutrition waivers addressing COVID-19 through June 30, 2023, which are currently set to expire on June 30, 2022.
H.R. 6781 – More Options to Develop and Enhance Remote Nutrition (MODERN) WIC Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Levin (D-MI), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Roybal-Allard (D-CA), this bill would ensure the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is more accessible to participants in a pandemic and a twenty-first century economy by permitting video or telephone certifications.
H.R. 6810 – Housing Our Veterans Act
- Introduced by Rep. Gonzalez (D-TX), this bill would direct the Comptroller of the United States to report on the availability of affordable housing for veterans who have been participating in any program administered by the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Homeless Program Office.
H.R. 6880 – Choice in Affordable Housing Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Cleaver (D-MO) and Katko (R-NY), this bill would expand access to affordable housing options for American families by reforming the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program by removing burdensome bureaucratic regulations, incentivizing greater landlord participation, and allowing more vouchers to be used in higher-opportunity neighborhoods.
H.R. 6989 – Housing for All Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Reps. Lieu (D-CA), Carbajal (D-CA) and 11 cosponsors, this bill would address the homelessness and housing crises, to move toward the goal of providing for a home for all Americans. The bill would invest in proven solutions to address critical affordable housing shortages and provide a surge of funding for strategic, existing programs to reduce homelessness.
H.R. 7027 – School Hunger Elimination Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Reps. Hayes (D-CT), McBath (D-GA), Courtney (D-CT), Adams (D-NC), and Morelle (D-NY), this bill would directly certify all school-age children receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income for the National School Lunch Program, which would automatically certify income-eligible students to receive free or reduced-price school meals without an application based on family participation or other means-tested assistance programs like SNAP.
H.R. 7123 – Study Barriers to Homelessness Act
- Introduced by Reps. Garcia (D-TX), Torres (D-NY), Bonamici (D-OR), Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Green (D-TX), this bill would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study to identify barriers to reducing homelessness by providing housing assistance under the Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs.
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN) and nine cosponsors, this bill would establish new units of public housing and private market affordable housing, to provide grants to combat gentrification and neighborhood destabilization, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7196 – Flexibility in Addressing Rural Homelessness Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Axne (D-IA) and Lucas (R-OK), this bill would mend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to expand the authorized activities under the Continuum of Care program to include activities that address barriers to transitioning families in rural areas to permanent housing.
H.R. 7272 – Feed Hungry Veterans Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Hayes (D-CT), Scott (D-VA), and Del. Radewagen (R-AS), this bill would expand the eligibility of disabled veterans to receive supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits and ensure they do not face barriers because of work requirements. A recent study estimated that food insecurity was 22.5 percent higher among disabled working-age veterans than the average for all working age veterans.
H.R. 7603 – WIC Healthy Beginnings Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. McBath (D-GA), McClain (R-MI), Levin (D-MI), and Miller-Meeks (R-IA), this bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a publicly available database of big solicitations for infant formula under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). The bill would improve the WIC public-private partnership to ensure transparency and access to high-quality, safe products.
H.R. 7716 – Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Rep. Dean (D-PA) and Del. San Nicolas (D-GU), this bill would help persons in the United States experiencing homelessness and significant behavioral health issues, including substance use disorders, by authorizing a grant program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist State and local governments, Continuums of Care, community-based organizations that administer both health and homelessness services, and providers of services to people experiencing homelessness, better coordinate health care and homelessness services, and for other purposes.
- Introduced by Reps. Morelle (D-NY) and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would support volunteers in programs which help deliver food to older, more vulnerable Americans and help eliminate barriers to reaching more individuals for charitable organizations.
H.R. 7990 – Healthy Homes Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Sewell (D-AL), Wenstrup (R-OH), Davis (D-IL), and Murphy (R-NC), this bill would temporarily expand the low-income housing tax credit for healthcare-oriented housing.
H.R. 8003 – Restore Veterans Dignity Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) and Wilson (D-FL), this bill would permanently authorize the use of certain funds to improve flexibility in the provision of assistance to homeless veterans.
H.R. 8150 – Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Scott (D-VA), Omar (D-MN), Steel (R-CA), and Owens (R-UT), this bill would extend child nutrition waiver authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide important funding and flexibilities for communities to provide healthy meals for students. The bill passed the House on June 23, led by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member Foxx (R-NC).
H.R. 8151 – Building a Sustainable Workforce for Healthy Communities Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Ruiz (D-CA) and Kuster (D-NH), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to awards to support community health workers and community health.
H.R. 8184 – Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Moore (D-WI), this bill would expand housing investment with mortgage revenue bonds to help working families afford their first mortgages and make first-time homeownership possible, particularly families who earn below the area median income.
H.R. 8245 – Community Multi-Share Coverage Program Act
- Introduced by Rep. Huizenga (R-MI), this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to support community-based coverage entities to carry out a comprehensive coverage program that provides to qualifying individuals and small businesses health coverage and integrated social determinant of health support services to small business workers that promote improved health, long-term economic self-sufficiency, employment and retention.
H.R. 8266 – Housing Innovation Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. DeSaulnier (D-CA), this bill would establish an Office of Housing Innovation in the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist in exploring and developing new approaches for increasing and diversifying the supply of housing and for meeting the challenges of housing shortages, housing affordability, and traffic congestion.
H.R. 8269 – Parity, Accountability, and Transparency in Housing (PATH) Data Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. Green (D-TX), this bill would bring parity to the collection of housing data with respect to key demographics not currently captured in Federal data sets and thereby to enhance accountability and transparency in the evaluation of housing and housing programs.
- Introduced by the House Appropriations Committee, this bill provides $242.1 billion in funding. Notably, the report accompanying the bill included notable language to support forward movement in addressing social determinants, health equity, and maternal health. This includes a request of $100 million to fund the CDC Social Determinants of Health Program, a request for a briefing by CMS on the current utilization of Z codes for SDOH, a request of $10 million for HRSA to create an innovation fund for community-based organizations to support reducing maternal mortality and adverse maternal outcomes, and other notable provisions.
H.R. 8313 – End Veterans Homelessness Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. O’Halleran (D-AZ) and Levin (D-CA), this bill would make certain improvements to the supported housing program for veterans known as the US Department of Housing and Urban Development – VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program by expanding it to more veterans, reducing the number of homelessness veterans and increasing the utilization of vouchers.
H.R. 8327 – Stable Families Act
- Introduced by Reps. Torres (D-NY), Gomez (D-CA), and 12 cosponsors, this bill would authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a rent stabilization program (the Emergency Housing Assistance Fund) to provide short-term financial assistance to extremely low-income families at risk of eviction.
H.R. 8429 – Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Morelle (D-NY) and Katko (R-NY), this bill would create a new Federal grant program that provides grants to State libraries to allow schools with summer lunch programs to keep their libraries open for student use during the summer months.
H.R. 8450 – Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
- Introduced by Reps. Scott (D-VA), Bonamici (D-OR), McNerney (D-CA), and Del. Sablan (D-MP), this bill would reauthorize child nutrition programs. Specifically, the bill would expand school and summer meal programs, increase access to federal nutrition programs like WIC, and prevent and address child hunger.
H.R. 8477 – No Shame at School Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN) and 48 cosponsors, this bill would require mandatory certification for certain students and reduce stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees. The bill would prohibit school districts from hiring debt collectors to recover unpaid school meal debt and would require schools to attempt to directly certify a child with unpaid meal debt and allows schools to be retroactively reimbursed for meals service to a child.
H.R. 8486 – Child Nutrition Technical Assistance Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Mrvan (D-IN) and Castor (D-FL), this bill would provide technical assistance relating to nutrition standards for school meal programs.
H.R. 8509 – National Advisory Council on Unpaid Meal Debt Act
- Introduced by Rep. Omar (D-MN), this bill would establish a National Advisory Council on Unpaid Meal Debt in Child Nutrition Programs, which would make policy recommendations to tackle school meal debt and student hunger, prevent stigmatization, and maintain program viability.
H.R. 8599 – Generating Resources and Opportunities Within (GROW) Affordable Housing Act
- Introduced by Rep. Beatty (D-OH), this bill would increase the amount of funds the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) must allocate each year to the Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund, both of which support affordable housing and are administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- Introduced by Reps. Miller (R-WV) and Chu (D-CA), this bill would allow community supports to meet specific needs of families and children through an electronic care portal under the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program to meet specific needs of families and children through community support. This legislation would permit states to use already-allocated money to access online portals that connect families in need with resources such as pregnancy centers, child care programs, food pantries, churches, and non-profits.
H.R. 8639 – Home Heating Emergency Funding Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Golden (D-ME), Garbarino (R-NY), and Pappas (D-NH), this bill would make supplemental appropriations to carry out the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program for fiscal year 2022, which provides grants for states, tribes, and territories to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households.
H.R. 8668 – Fair Access to Co-Ops for Veterans Act
- Introduced by Rep. Maloney (D-NY), this bill would permanently expand the Veterans Affairs’ Home Loan Guaranty Program to include cooperative housing.
H.R. 8815 – Grant Assistance and Technical Education (GATE) Act
- Introduced by Rep. Smith (D-WA), this bill would establish within the HHS Office of Minority Health the position of Outreach Coordinator to support community-based organizations in navigating the federal grantmaking process. The bill would also provide grants to state and local public health entities to build capacity in local community-based organizations focused on addressing health inequities.
H.R. 8841 – Access to Critical Non-Emergency Transportation Services Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Carter (R-GA), Cardenas (D-CA), and Bishop (D-GA), this bill would require the Secretary of HHS, in coordination with single State agencies, to assist certain dual eligible individuals participating in the Repetitive, Scheduled, Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (RSNAT) model with accessing non-emergency medical assistance benefits under the Medicaid program.
H.R. 8852 – End Veteran Hunger Act
- Introduced by Reps. Jacobs (D-CA), Brownley (D-CA), Levin (D-CA), and Speier (D-CA), this bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on food insecurity that would provide grants for proven federal food and nutrition programs like SNAP to increase proactive outreach and education to veterans, and reduce the stigma associated with utilizing these programs.
- Introduced by Reps. Davis (D-IL), Wenstrup (R-OH), and 185 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would reauthorize through FY2027, increase funding for, and modify the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program, which supports home visits for expectant and new parents who live in communities that are at-risk for poor maternal and child health outcomes. This bill passed the House on December 2, 2022.
H.R. 8888 – Food Security for All Veterans Act
- Introduced by Rep. Peltola (D-AK), this bill would establish the Office of Food Security within the Department of Veterans Affairs to, among other duties, provide information to veterans concerning the eligibility requirements for federal nutrition assistance programs and develop policies to identify and treat veterans experiencing food insecurity. The bill passed the House on September 29, 2022.
H.R. 8948 – Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Yarmuth (D-KY), Bacon (R-NE), and 15 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide and require HHS to develop a national estimate of the prevalence of homeless youth every three years.
H.R. 8964 – Education and Training (EAT) for Health Act
- Introduced by Reps. Grijalva (D-AZ) and McGovern (D-MA), this bill would increase nutrition education and awareness for health care professionals and ensure federal primary care health professionals have continuing education courses relating to nutrition.
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Burgess (R-TX), this bill would establish a demonstration project testing Whole Child Health Models.
H.R. 9069 – Military Family Nutrition Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Panetta (D-CA), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Jacobs (D-CA), this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to exclude from income for purposes of eligibility for the supplemental nutrition assistance program the basic allowance for housing received by members of the uniformed services.
- Introduced by Rep. Peltola (D-AK), this bill would make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make grants for the transportation of highly rural veterans to medical care.
H.R. 9137 – State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Mullin (R-OK) and O’Halleran (D-AZ), this bill would reauthorize through FY2027 grants awarded to state offices of rural health for improving health care in rural areas.
H.R. 9144 – SNAP Access for Medically Vulnerable Children Act
- Introduced by Rep. Brown (D-OH), this bill would allow households with children with chronic medical conditions to deduct allowable medical expenses incurred by such household member that exceeds $35 per month.
H.R. 9201 – Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Tonko (D-NY), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Castor (D-FL), this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the CDC, to promote mental wellness and resilience and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychological problems through age and culturally appropriate community programs, and award grants for the purpose of establishing, operating, or expanding community-based mental wellness and resilience programs.
H.R. 9210 – Public Service Expenditure Cap Modification Act
- Introduced by Rep. Espaillat (D-NY) and eight cosponsors, this bill would waive certain requirements for Community Development Block Grant amounts used for public services activities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to homelessness and emergency rental assistance needs.
- Introduced by Rep. Carson (D-IN and 11 cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to States to support the establishment and operation of grocery stores in underserved communities.
H.R. 9288 – Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. Schneider (D-IL), this bill would allow taxpayers to designate overpayments of tax as contributions and to make additional contributions to the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.
H.R. 9313 – Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Davis (D-IL) and Wenstrup (R-OH), this bill would qualify homeless youth and veterans who are full-time students for purposes of the low income housing tax credit.
H.R. 9328 – Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Boyle (D-PA) and Brown (D-OH), this bill would establish a demonstration program to promote collaborative treatment of mental and physical health comorbidities under the Medicare program. The bill would work through the CMS Innovation Center to help hospitals and health systems improve care and outcomes for people who face mental and physical health challenges from low-income backgrounds and those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and would address social determinants of health by encouraging innovation of best practices and effective models that promote holistic care and treatment.
H.R. 9375 – Build Housing with Care Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. Bonamici (D-OR) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would establish a grant program to address the crises in accessing affordable housing and child care through the co-location of housing and child care.
H.R. 9466 – Housing, Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Rep. Clyburn (D-SC), this bill would require Community Development Block Grant and Surface Transportation Block Grant recipients to develop a strategy to support inclusive zoning policies, to allow for a credit to support housing affordability.
H.R. 9482 – No Hungry Kids in Schools Act
- Introduced by Reps. Porter (D-CA) and 12 cosponsors, this bill would establish statewide community eligibility for certain special assistance payments.
H.R. 9522 – Strengthening Housing Supply Act of 2022
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA), this bill would authorize affordable housing construction as an eligible activity under the Community Development Block Grant Program.
H.R. 2617 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
- On December 29, President Biden signed this bill into law, which will make $1.7 trillion in appropriations for FY 2023, as well as several key health care extenders and new authorizations. This package included significant social determinants of health policies, funding, and initiatives, including $8 million for the CDC Social Determinants of Health Accelerator Grants program and inclusion of language from the Social Determinants Accelerator Act and LINC to Address Social Needs Act. A full summary of SDOH provisions included in the package can be found here.
Senate
S. 8 – Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Bennet (D-CO), this bill would establish a demonstration program to promote collaborative treatment of mental and physical health comorbidities under the Medicare program. The bill would work through the CMS Innovation Center to help hospitals and health systems improve care and outcomes for people who face mental and physical health challenges from low-income backgrounds and those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and would address social determinants of health by encouraging innovation of best practices and effective models that promote holistic care and treatment.
S.19 – FEMA Empowering Essential Deliveries (FEED) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sen. Scott (R-SC) and eight cosponsors, this bill would authorize the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve state, local, and Indian tribal government plans to partner with small and mid-size restaurants and nonprofit organizations to provide nutritious meals to individuals in need, and to waive certain matching fund requirements.
S. 104 – Improving Social Determinants of Health Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Murphy (D-CT), Brown (D-OH), Baldwin (D-WI), Wyden (D-OR), Durbin (D-IL), Whitehouse (D-RI), Klobuchar (D-MN), and Blumenthal (D-CT) this bill would authorize the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out a Social Determinants of Health Program.
S. 203 – Health Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Warner (D-VA), Moran (R-KS), Capito (R-WV), and Casey (D-PA), this bill would establish a new tax credit and grant program to stimulate investment and healthy nutrition options in food deserts.
S. 220 – Emergency Family Stabilization Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) and 10 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide emergency relief to youth, children, and families experiencing homelessness, in light of the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
S. 404 – Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act
- Introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ), Brown (D-OH), and 24 cosponsors, this bill would provide funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act to expand access to housing counseling and assistance services for families struggling to remain in their homes because of the economic crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
S. 410 – Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2021
- Introduced by Sen. Smith (D-MN) and Gillibrand (D-NY), this bill would make emergency supplemental appropriations for social isolation services under the Older Americans Act of 1965 to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults during COVID-19.
S. 485 – Family Support Services for Addiction Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY) and Capito (R-WV), this bill would establish a grant program for family community organizations that provide support for individuals struggling with substance use disorder and their families.
- Introduced by Sens. Sullivan (R-AK) and Murphy (D-CT), this bill would establish a program to assist States in establishing or enhancing community integration network infrastructure for health and social services.
S. 612 – Improving Housing Outcomes for Veterans Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Portman (R-OH), Warren (D-MA), Durbin (D-IL), and Van Hollen (D-MD), this bill would require the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide certain information to medical center staff and homelessness service providers of the Department regarding the coordinated entry processes for housing and services operated under the Continuum of Care Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
S. 674 – Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act
- Introduced by Sen. Murray (D-WA) and 19 cosponsors, this bill would support public health infrastructure. The legislation would establish a new core public health infrastructure program through establishing a $4.5 billion dedicated fund to build and maintain the nation’s public health infrastructure at every level.
S. 769 – Housing Fairness Act of 2021
- Introduced by Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would reaffirm HUD’s commitment to fair housing by increasing funding for fair housing programs, making improvements to the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, reinstating the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule, and providing additional funds for research into housing discrimination.
S. 851 – Social Determinants for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ossoff (D-GA), this bill would address social determinants of maternal health with respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals.
S. 853 – Wise Investment in Children (WIC) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Smith (D-MN), this bill would increase the age of eligibility for children to receive benefits under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, and for other purposes.
S. 902 – Housing Supply and Affordability Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Klobuchar (D-MN), Portman (R-OH), and Kaine (D-VA), this bill would authorize a grant program for the development and implementation of housing supply and affordability plans. The bill would create a federal housing policy grant program that would provide funding for planning and implementing policies that increase housing supply, increase housing affordability, and reduce barriers to housing development. The bill would require these housing policies to prioritize avoiding displacement.
S. 1023 – Computer and Internet Access Equity Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Durbin (D-IL) and Booker (D-NJ), this bill would provide tax credits to low- to moderate-income individuals for certain computer and education costs, and direct the Federal Communications Commission to modify the requirements for the Lifeline program to provide increased support. The bill would help make internet and broadband more affordable to help bridge the digital divide.
S. 1052 – Poverty Measurement Improvement Act
- Introduced by Sen. Lee (R-UT), this bill would improve the poverty measurement methodology used by the Bureau of the Census to more accurately measure poverty in the United States. The bill would require the Census Bureau Director to produce a new, more accurate and comprehensive measure of poverty alongside the current official poverty rate and Supplemental Poverty Measure, and to provide a report comparing the measures.
S. 1136 – Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Cantwell (D-WA), Young (R-IN), Wyden (D-OR), and Portman (R-OH), this bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to reform the low-income housing credit.
S. 1218 – Green New Deal for Public Housing Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Sanders (I-VT), Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), and Blumenthal (D-CT), this bill would provide economic empowerment opportunities in the United States through modernization of public housing. The bill would strengthen public housing communities, improve living conditions for residents, and create jobs by addressing the housing and climate crisis.
S. 1270 – Access to Healthy Food for Young Children Act of 2021
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA) and 14 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to improve the child and adult care food program.
S. 1461 – Transit to Trails Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ) and 11 cosponsors, this bill would establish a program to award grants to entities that provide transportation connectors from critically underserved urban communities and rural communities to green spaces. The bill takes an equitable approach to help communities nationwide with the highest need for better sustainable public transportation options, making access to these public lands more affordable and accessible.
S. 1469 – Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Feinstein (D-CA), Portman (R-OH), and Baldwin (D-WI), this bill would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to meet the needs of homeless children, youth, and families, and honor the assessments and priorities of local communities. The bill that would amend the definition of homelessness used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to verify eligibility for federal homeless assistance programs.
S. 1530 – Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Sanders (I-VT) and 10 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children. The bill would permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of income, eliminate school meal debt, and strengthen local economies by incentivizing local food procurement.
S. 1536 – The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Collins (R-ME) and Peters (D-MI), this bill would expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program and combat health disparities.
S. 1569 – Student Food Security Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Warren (D-MA) and seven cosponsors, this bill would expand the eligibility of students to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and establish college student food insecurity demonstration programs.
S. 1570 – Human-Services Emergency Logistics Program (HELP) Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA) and 12 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would facilitate nationwide accessibility and coordination of 211 services and 988 services in order to provide information and referral to all residents and visitors in the United States for mental health emergencies, homelessness needs, and other social and human services needs.
S. 1577 – Summer Meals Alternative Relief and Transportation (SMART) Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Cornyn (R-TX) and Booker (D-NJ), this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to ensure equity for America’s children by providing access to summer meals. Specifically, the bill would establish additional food delivery service options for low-income students who live in rural areas and receive meals through the USDA Summer Food Service Program.
S. 1590 – Caregivers, Access, and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Kids Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA) and seven cosponsors, this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to enhance direct certification under the school lunch program. Specifically, this bill would support more children facing food insecurity by ensuring that local education agencies can provide automatic eligibility for children living with grandparents or other caregivers.
S. 1674 – Affordable Housing Production Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Cortez Masto (D-NV), Padilla (D-CA), Feinstein (D-CA), Sanders (I-VT), and Merkley (D-OR), this bill would amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to authorize use of amounts under the Troubled Assets Relief Program to be used for assistance under the Housing Trust Fund, and for other purposes.
S. 1733 – One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cornyn (R-TX), this bill would authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to operate one-stop reentry centers. Specifically, this bill would create resource centers to support people transitioning from incarceration and connect them with services needed to reintegrate into their communities.
S. 1809 – Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Coons (D-DE), Brown (D-OH) and eight cosponsors, this bill would eliminate asset or resource limits employed by certain federally funded means-tested public assistance programs (TANF, SNAP, and LIHEAP). The bill would also raise the asset limitation for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from $2,000 to $10,000 for an individual and from $3,000 to $20,000 for a couple, indexed to inflation.
S. 1831 – Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Murray (D-WA), this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a permanent, nationwide electronic benefit transfer program for children during school closures.
S.1991 – Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Van Hollen (D-MD) and Young (R-IN), this bill would authorize a new type of housing choice voucher to help achieve the goals of ending homelessness among families with children, increasing housing opportunities, and improving life outcomes of poor children.
S. 2005 – Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Boozman (R-AR) and 13 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to require alternative options for summer food service program delivery. The bill would increased flexibility for the USDA’s Summer Food Service program and provide states additional options to reach hungry children in communities without a centralized feeding site during the summer.
S. 2008 – Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Reed (D-RI), Collins (R-ME), Van Hollen (D-MD), Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Klobuchar (D-MN), this bill would strengthen the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
S. 2013 – Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Ernst (R-IA), Grassley (R-IA), and Rosen (D-NV), this bill would provide for the coverage of medically necessary food and vitamins and individual amino acids for digestive and inherited metabolic disorder under federal health programs and private health insurance, and to ensure state and federal protection for existing coverage.
S. 2049 – Trafficking Survivors Housing Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Brown (D-OH), Blunt (R-MO), and Durbin (D-IL), this bill would require a study and report on the housing and service needs of survivors of trafficking and individuals at risk for trafficking. The bill would focus on improving housing and homeless services for trafficking survivors to help them rebuild their lives.
S. 2089 – Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Shaheen (D-NH), Hassan (D-NH), Hoeven (R-ND), and Cramer (R-ND), this bill would extend child nutrition waiver authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide important funding and flexibilities for communities to provide healthy meals for students. The bill became law on June 25, 2022.
S. 2172 – Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021
- Introduced by Sen. Tester (D-MT), this bill would improve grants, payments, and technical assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve homeless veterans.
S. 2190 – Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Young (R-IN), King (I-ME), Cantwell (D-WA), Kennedy (R-LA), and Tester (D-MT), this bill would establish the bipartisan Task Force on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis to better understand and respond to America’s housing affordability crisis. The task force would evaluate and quantify the impact of housing costs on other government programs and provide recommendations to Congress on how to increase affordable housing options in order to improve life outcomes.
S. 2192 – Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY), Sanders (I-VT), Booker (D-NJ), Padilla (D-CA), and Warren (D-MA), this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan. The bill would expand and strengthen the SNAP benefits for vulnerable community members by raising the baseline benefit for all SNAP households, allocating more funds to those with large medical and housing expenses, and increasing access to the program.
S. 2234 – Affordable Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Merkley (D-OR), this bill would make housing affordable. Specifically, the bill would lower the cost of housing, build a 21st century housing supply that meets the needs of all Americans, provide housing and supportive services to reduce chronic homelessness, directly address the legacy of America’s history of racially discriminatory federal housing policies, and build fast-acting emergency housing program to deploy federal housing resources in large-scale disasters.
S. 2240 – Volunteer Innovation Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Young (R-IN) and Reed (D-RI), this bill would establish a national and community service pay for results program within AmeriCorps. Specifically, the bill would allow community-based entities to access reliable volunteer pathways to achieve measurable success and create an open format for community-based entities to submit an application demonstrating how to achieve measurable, clearly defined outcomes that result in federal savings and social benefits.
S. 2258 – Parks, Jobs and Equity Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Hickenlooper (D-CO) and seven cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization and park development for communities impacted by COVD-19.
S. 2264 – Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Schatz (D-HI), Murkowski (R-OK), Hoeven (R-ND), Tester (D-MT), Smith (D-MN), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Lujan (D-NM), and Rounds (R-SD), this bill would reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 to build on successful Native American housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
S. 2300 – Restoring Communities Left Behind Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Peters (D-MI), this bill would direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grant program to help revitalize certain localities. Specifically, the bill would create a $5 billion program to award competitive grants to eligible local partnerships to carry out neighborhood revitalization support activities to include restoring damaged or vacant properties for affordable housing, providing skills training programs in low-income areas, and improving parks, sidewalks, and other improvements that impact quality of life.
S. 2357 – Fighting Homelessness Through Services and Housing Act*
Introduced by Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) and six cosponsors, this bill would fight homelessness in the United States by authorizing a grant program for housing programs that offer comprehensive services and intensive case management for homeless individuals and families.
S. 2413 – Supporting Positive Outcomes After Release Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Markey (D-MA) and Brown (D-OH), this bill would expand the requirement for States to suspend, rather than terminate, an individual’s eligibility for medical assistance under the State Medicaid plan while the individual is an inmate of a public institution, to apply to inmates of any age. This would ensure that individuals can access addiction treatment, mental health services, and medications in the critical, immediate days and weeks after release.
- Introduced by Sen. Wyden (D-OR) and eight cosponsors, this bill would divert certain parents of minor children, expectant parents, and other caregivers from incarceration and into comprehensive programs providing resources, services, and training to those individuals and their families. The bill is designed to keep families together and reduce recidivism.
S. 2511 – Revitalizing Downtowns Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Stabenow (D-MI) and Peters (D-MI), this bill would create the Qualified Office Conversion Tax Credit to convert unused office buildings into residential, commercial, and mixed-used properties. The bill would invest in America’s changing downtowns and business districts following the COVID-19 crisis, offer incentives for redevelopment, encourage the expansion of affordable housing options, and more.
S. 2515 – Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Smith (D-MN), Leahy (D-VT), Booker (D-NJ), and Sanders (I-VT), this bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to treat attendance at an institution of higher education the same as work for the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program. Specifically, the bill would expand SNAP benefit eligibility to college students attending two- and four-year universities part-time or more and some graduate students who also meet traditional SNAP income and eligibility requirements to address the hunger crisis affecting such students.
S. 2578 – Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Brown (D-OH) and seven cosponsors, this bill would extend the moratorium on residential evictions enacted as a result of COVID-19 through the end of 2021.
S. 2584 – Helping Our Most Elderly (HOME) Secure Meals Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Manchin (D-WV) and Collins (R-ME), this bill would amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish a competitive grant program to enable area agencies on aging and local nutrition service providers to purchase, customize, or repair vehicles with hot and cold food storage for delivering meals to older individuals through the Congregate Nutrition Program or the Home-Delivered Nutrition Program.
S. 2616 – Livable Communities Act of 2021
- Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and seven cosponsors, this bill would create livable communities through coordinated public investment and streamlined requirements. Specifically, the bill would help working families access good paying jobs by ensuring affordable housing is connected with transit systems through establishing an Office of Sustainable Communities within HUD to promote interagency coordination on the development of affordable housing, transit systems, and other community needs, among other provisions.
S. 2664 – School Hunger Elimination Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Brown (D-OH), and Hirono (D-HI) this bill would directly certify all school-age children receiving Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income for the National School Lunch Program, which would automatically certify income-eligible students to receive free or reduced-price school meals without an application based on family participation or other means-tested assistance programs like SNAP.
S. 2667 – Making Essentials Available and Lawful (MEAL) Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ) and eight cosponsors, this bill would amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to repeal a certain disqualification to receive benefits under title IV of the Social Security Act and benefits under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008; and to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide that incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released from an institution within 30 days shall be considered to be a household for purposes of such Act.
S. 2672 – Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Van Hollen (D-MD), this bill would authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs, and for other purposes.
- Introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Scott (R-SC), this bill would improve diversity in clinical trials and data collection for COVID-19 and future public health threats to address social determinants of health.
S. 2726 – Public Transportation Expansion Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Ossoff (D-GA), Warnock (D-GA), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Warren (D-MA), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), and Cardin (D-MD), this bill would provide for competitive grants to support access to affordable housing and the enhancement of mobility for residents in disadvantaged communities or neighborhoods. Specifically, the bill would create a Federal grant program to fund public transportation expansion to serve low-income communities and connect affordable housing with transit networks.
S. 2729 – Device Access for Every American Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Warnock (D-GA), this bill would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a program through which eligible individuals may obtain up to $400 in vouchers for the purchase of connected devices such as laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. The bill would ensure every American can participate and thrive in the digital economy, regardless of income or zip code.
S. 2901 – Excellence in Recovery Housing Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Whitehouse (D-RI) and Portman (R-OH), this bill would provide for increased oversight of recovery housing. Specifically, the bill would boost the availability of housing nationwide for those in recovery from substance use disorder.
S. 3039 – Social Determinants Accelerator Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Young (R-IN) and Stabenow (D-MI), this bill would establish an interagency council on social determinants of health.
S. 3064 – White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ) and Braun (R-IN), this bill would authorize and convene a second national White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger and Health. The proposed second conference would take a whole-of-government approach to ending hunger and combatting nutrition insecurity, and would feature voices of those with lived experiences.
S. 3088 – Five Freedoms For America’s Children Act
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA), this bill would ensure America’s children have the freedom to be healthy, to be economically secure, to learn, to not be hungry, and to be safe from harm. The bill builds off Sen. Casey’s Five Freedoms for America’s Children plan focusing on these areas.
S. 3094 – Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Moran (R-KS), Manchin (D-WV), Sullivan (R-AK), Capito (R-WV), Marshall (R-KS), and Hirono (D-HI), this bill would improve homeless veterans reintegration programs, which offer customized employment and training services to homeless or at-risk-of homelessness veterans to address their specific barriers to employment.
S. 3188 – Manufactured Housing Community Improvement Act
- Introduced by Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV), this bill would establish a manufactured housing community improvement grant program to improve affordability and quality of life for families who live in such communities. The bill would direct the Secretary of HUD to create a competitive grant program to reward manufactured home communities that prioritize affordability for working families.
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marshall (R-KS), this bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to permit video or telephone certifications under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. The bill would invest $60M to modernize and increase access to WIC for low-income families and ensure more applicants receive needed benefits by allowing them to certify or recertify for WIC services remotely, codifying two pandemic-era waivers that simplified user access to benefits that are set to expire in January 2022.
S. 3237 – Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Schatz (D-HI) and Braun (R-IN), this bill would include affordable housing incentives in certain capital investment grants. Specifically, the bill would encourage construction of low and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations and would provide incentives for transit applicants who meet requirements related to building more housing along the future transit corridor.
S. 3281 – Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Blumenthal (D-CT) and Toomey (R-PA), this bill would amend the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to clarify and expand food donation. Specifically, the bill would address food insecurity and encourage food donation efforts by extending liability protections to food donors when food is either given directly to a person in need or when a recipient pays a deeply reduced cost.
S. 3350 – Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Portman (R-OH), this bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to condition an institution of higher education’s receipt of federal assistance on waiving the application for enrollment fee for homeless children and youths and students who were in foster care at any time when the students were 13 years of age or older.
S. 3473 – Innovations in Aging Act
- Introduced by Sen. King (I-ME) and Casey (D-PA), this bill would authorize funding for the Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center for the Aging Network in order to demonstrate the impact of the aging network on the health and independence of older individuals and to foster innovation in such network. The bill would provide funding for the Administration for Community Living to evaluate opportunities to improve essential aging services, including home-delivered meal programs.
S. 3479 – Building a Sustainable Workforce for Healthy Communities Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Tillis (R-NC), Smith (D-MN), and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to awards to support community health workers (CHWs) and community health. Specifically, the bill would reauthorize a competitive grant program for eligible entities to develop or expand CHW programs, which could include recruiting and training CHWs who reflect the needs of the community and support outreach to underserved communities and those requiring additional assistance during a public health emergency.
S. 3497 – Medical Student Education Authorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Inhofe (R-OK) and Rosen (D-NV), this bill would establish a grant program to award grants to public institutions of higher education located in a covered state to expand or support graduate education for physicians in states with the most severe primary care provider shortages. This could include the development and implementation of curricula that considers social determinants of health in care plan development, among other areas.
S. 3552 – Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ) and Portman (R-OH), this bill would provide an increased allocation of funding under certain programs for assistance in areas of persistent poverty.
S. 3781 – Military Family Nutrition Access Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Murkowski (R-AK), and 12 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would exclude a basic allowance for housing – a subset of military compensation intended to cover the costs of off-base housing – from income calculations for purposes of eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill aims to support active duty military families experiencing food insecurity and to prevent hunger in these families.
S. 3788 – Housing for All Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sen. Padilla (D-CA), this bill would address the homelessness and housing crises, to move toward the goal of providing for a home for all Americans. The bill would invest in proven solutions to address critical affordable housing shortages and provide a surge of funding for strategic, existing programs to reduce homelessness.
- Introduced by Senate HELP Committee Chair, Sen. Murray (D-WA), and Ranking Member, Sen. Burr (R-NC), this bill is focused on strengthening the nation’s public health and medical preparedness and response systems in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sec. 201 of the discussion draft focused on addressing social determinants of health and improving health outcomes, including by authorizing grant programs to support evidence-based projects to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes by increasing capacity to address social determinants within communities, among other provisions. Aligning for Health was pleased to see the inclusion of the section on social determinants of health in this legislation, as well as elements of the LINC to Address Social Needs Act (S. 509/H.R. 6072).
- Introduced by Sens. King (I-ME) and Cornyn (R-TX), this bill would support volunteers in programs which help deliver food to older, more vulnerable Americans and help eliminate barriers to reaching more individuals for charitable organizations.
S. 4332 – Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. King (I-ME) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS, acting through the Director of the CDC, to support research and programmatic efforts that will build on previous research on the effects of adverse childhood experiences. The bill would authorize $7 million annually over five years to support CDC research and data collection efforts to study the potential ties between childhood trauma and poor health conditions in adulthood.
S. 4445 – Affordable Housing Bond Enhancement Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV), this bill would expand housing investment with mortgage revenue bonds to help working families afford their first mortgages and make first-time homeownership possible, particularly families who earn below the area median income.
S. 4482 – Coordinating Substance Use and Homelessness Care Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Padilla (D-CA) and Feinstein (D-CA), this bill would help persons in the United States experiencing homelessness and significant behavioral health issues, including substance use disorders, by authorizing a grant program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist State and local governments, Continuums of Care, community-based organizations that administer both health and homelessness services, and providers of services to people experiencing homelessness, better coordinate health care and homelessness services, and for other purposes.
S. 4513 – Supporting Mental Assistance Responder Teams (SMART) Community Policing Act
- Introduced by Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Heinrich (D-NM), this bill would mend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to provide funding or innovations in community policing, mental health care, and community safety. Mobile crisis teams, co-responder units, and case managers help engage individuals experiencing crisis related to mental health poverty, homelessness, or substance use to deescalate challenging situations.
S. 4578 – Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Blumenthal (D-CT), Wyden (D-OR), and Booker (D-NJ), this bill would create a new Federal grant program that provides grants to State libraries to allow schools with summer lunch programs to keep their libraries open for student use during the summer months.
S. 4602 – No Shame at School Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Smith (D-MN), this bill would require mandatory certification for certain students and reduce stigma associated with unpaid school meal fees. The bill would prohibit school districts from hiring debt collectors to recover unpaid school meal debt and would require schools to attempt to directly certify a child with unpaid meal debt and allows schools to be retroactively reimbursed for meals service to a child.
S. 4635 – Comprehensive Care for Dual Eligible Individuals Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Brown (D-OH) and Portman (R-OH), this bill would establish an optional state-administered program to provide fully integrated, comprehensive, coordinated care for full-benefit dual eligible individuals under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Such integrated programs would allow beneficiaries to choose a single program that can provide for their medical, long-term care, social, and behavioral needs.
S. 4649 – Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Risch (R-ID), Boozman (R-AR), and Coons (D-DE), this bill would improve the comprehensive strategic approach for US foreign assistance to developing countries to reduce global poverty and hunger, achieve food and nutrition security, promote inclusive, sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, improve nutritional outcomes, especially for women and children, and build resilience among vulnerable populations.
S. 4659 – Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023*
- Introduced by Sen. Murray (D-WA), this bill provides FY2023 appropriations to the Departments of Labor, HHS, and Education and related agencies. The Report for the Departments of Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies for FY2023 contained key provisions related to SDOH, health equity, and maternal health, including $100 million for the CDC Social Determinants of Health Program. Aligning for Health put together a summary of all SDOH provisions in the report, which can be found here.
S. 4677 – Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Heinrich (D-NM), Padilla (D-CA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Klobuchar (D-MN), Booker (D-NJ), and Warren (D-MA), this bill would increase language access to mental health services at certain health centers. The bill would improve access to affordable services at community health centers and employ qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other than English.
S. 4692 – WIC Healthy Beginnings Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sen. Marshall (R-KS) this bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a publicly available database of big solicitations for infant formula under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). The bill would improve the WIC public-private partnership to ensure transparency and access to high-quality, safe products.
S. 4735 – Lifting Local Communities Act
- Introduced by Rubio (R-FL) and six cosponsors, this bill would ensure equal treatment for religious organizations in the Federal provision of social services programs, grantmaking, and contracting. The bill would codify religious protections in the delivery of dollars across federal social service programs.
S. 4789 – Expand Housing Opportunities Act
- Introduced by Sen. Hassan (D-NH), this bill would establish a competitive grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to support the construction, preservation, or rehabilitation of affordable workforce housing in areas with shortages of affordable housing units for sale.
S. 4795 – Fostering Postsecondary Success for Foster and Homeless Youth Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Stabenow (D-MI) and Casey (D-PA), this bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize a program to recognize institutions of higher education that offer outstanding services and programs for foster and homeless youth.
S. 4916 – Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Leahy (D-VT), Collins (R-ME), Murkowski (R-AK), Durbin (D-IL), Sullivan (R-AK), Booker (D-NJ), and Duckworth (D-IL), this bill would reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide and require HHS to develop a national estimate of the prevalence of homeless youth every three years.
S. 4958 – Keeping Our Commitment to Ending Veteran Homelessness Act of 2022
- Introduced by Sen. Hirono (D-HI), this bill would reauthorize through FY2024 the Supportive Services for Veterans Families program (which provides financial assistance for supportive services for very low-income veteran families in permanent housing or transitioning from homelessness) and the program that provides additional and comprehensive services for homeless veterans at certain locations.
S. 4978 – State Offices of Rural Health Program Reauthorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Barrasso (R-WY), Smith (D-MN), Baldwin (D-WI), Blackburn (R-TN), Hoeven (R-ND), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lummis (R-WY), and Scott (R-SC), this bill would reauthorize through FY2027 grants awarded to state offices of rural health for improving health care in rural areas. This bill became law on January 5, 2023.
- Introduced by Sens. Carper (D-DE) and Sullivan (R-AK), this bill would establish a demonstration project testing Whole Child Health Models.
S. 5095 – Tools for Ensuring Access to Meals Act
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA), this bill would establish a pilot program to address hunger among older individuals and adults with disabilities.
S. 5096 – Senior Nutrition Task Force Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA) and Scott (R-SC), this bill would establish the Interagency Task Force to Address Hunger and Promote Access to Healthy Food Among Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities.
S. 5108 – Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Portman (R-OH), King (I-ME), and Brown (D-OH), this bill would qualify homeless youth and veterans who are full-time students for purposes of the low income housing tax credit.
S. 5115 – Helping Households And Neighbors Distribute Services (HANDS) for Families Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Rubio (R-FL) and Casey (D-PA), this bill would allow community supports to meet specific welfare needs of families and children through an electronic care portal under the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program that would connect child welfare cases with civil institutions ready and willing to help.
S. 5223 – Housing, Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ), this bill would require Community Development Block Grant and Surface Transportation Block Grant recipients to develop a strategy to support inclusive zoning policies, to allow for a credit to support housing affordability.
S. 5251 – Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Markey (D-MA), Blumenthal (D-CT) and Merkley (D-OR), this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the CDC, to promote mental wellness and resilience and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychological problems through age and culturally appropriate community programs, and award grants for the purpose of establishing, operating, or expanding community-based mental wellness and resilience programs.
* Denotes bicameral legislation
House of Representatives
- Introduced by Reps. Barragan (D-CA), Carter (R-GA), Taylor (R-TX) and Williams (D-GA), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that the authority of the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to make certain research endowments applies with respect to both current and former centers of excellence. The bill would increase investments in schools conducting critical research into minority health disparities. This bill was signed into law on March 18, 2022.
H.R. 666 – Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and 44 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for public health research and investment into understanding and eliminating structural racism and police violence.
H.R. 801 – Expanding Medical Education Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Costa (D-CA) and 14 cosponsors, this bill would establish a grant program to support schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas. The bill aims to tackle underrepresentation of rural students, underserved students, and students of color in the physician pipeline.
H.R. 912 – American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Brownley (D-CA), this bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain improvements relating to mental health and suicide prevention outreach to minority veterans and American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
H.R. 1072 – COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Pressley (D-MA), Garcia (D-TX), Demings (D-FL), Trone (D-MD), Hayes (D-CT), Speier (D-CA), Espaillat (D-NY), and DeSaulnier (D-CA), this bill would report data on COVID-19 in Federal, State, and local correctional facilities.
H.R. 1331 – Strengthening Mental Health Supports for BIPOC Communities Act
- Introduced by Reps. Cardenas (D-CA), Johnson (D-TX), and Soto (D-FL), this bill would reduce health inequities experienced by individuals who are members of historically racial and ethnic minority groups under State plans under the community mental health services block grant program.
H.R. 1370 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and 19 cosponsors, this bill would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect and report certain data concerning COVID-19.
H.R. 1400 – COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Reps. Cardenas (D-CA) and Watson Coleman (D-NJ), this bill would establish and support public awareness campaigns to address COVID-19-related health disparities and promote vaccination.
H.R. 1475 – Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and 49 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color. This bill passed the House on May 12, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
H.R. 1835 – COVID Communities Care Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Lee (D-CA) and 36 cosponsors, this bill would provide FY2021 supplemental appropriations for HHS to implement programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in medically underserved areas. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending.
H.R. 2078 – Social and Economic Equity Promotion Act
- Introduced by Rep. Meeks (D-NY), this bill would amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to establish the Division of Social and Economic Equity in the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The bill would require analyses from the CBO on how legislative proposals would impact historically underserved communities, including communities of color and others that have experienced longstanding social and economic inequality.
H.R. 2178 – Minority Diabetes Initiative Act
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA) and 32 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to provide treatment for diabetes in minority communities.
H.R. 2183 – Eliminate the Digital Divide Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Williams (R-TX) and Cooper (D-TN), this bill would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding to states for extending broadband service to underserved areas in partnership with broadband service providers.
H.R. 3013 – COVID Vaccine Transportation Access Act
- Introduced by Reps. Barragan (D-CA), Cardenas (D-CA), Clarke (D-NY), Ruiz (D-CA), Holmes Norton (D-DC), Blumenauer (D-OR), and Soto (D-FL), this bill would authorize the Secretary of HHS to award grants for removing transportation barriers to accessing vaccines for COVID-19, including booster vaccines, for individuals from low-income communities, minority communities, or other communities in which transportation poses a barrier to health care access.
H.R. 3320 – Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Rush (D-IL), Mullin (R-OK), and nine bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would authorize assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology.
H.R. 3541 – Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Reauthorization Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Schneider (D-IL) and 38 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities.
H.R. 3573 – Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act
- Introduced by Reps. Chu (D-CA) and Napolitano (D-CA), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for behavioral and mental health outreach and education strategies to reduce stigma associated with mental health among the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population.
H.R. 3771 – South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Jayapal (D-WA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and 31 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would authorize HHS to establish programs that support heart-disease research and awareness among communities disproportionately affected by heart disease, including the South Asian population of the US. The bill passed the House on July 27, 2022 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
H.R. 3841 – Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Mullin (R-OK) and O’Halleran (D-AZ), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the collection and availability of health data with respect to Indian Tribes. This bill passed the House on June 23, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
- Introduced by Rep. Takano (D-CA), this bill would require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disparities associated with race and ethnicity with respect to certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Wenstrup (R-OH), this bill would improve kidney disease research, prevention, surveillance, and treatment in minority populations and rural and underserved communities.
H.R. 3904 – Reducing COVID-19 Disparities by Investing in Public Health Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Hayes (D-CT) and Thompson (D-MS), this bill would increase the annual funding for the Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Fund, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the Offices of Minority Health within the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to enable the United States and State departments of public health to better combat disparities that have emerged during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
H.R. 4251 – Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Pallone (D-NJ) and Ruiz (D-CA), this bill would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize a special behavioral health program for Indians.
H.R. 4283 – Native Health and Wellness Act
- Introduced by Reps. Ruiz (D-CA) and Pallone (D-NJ), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the public health system in tribal communities and increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives pursuing health careers.
H.R. 4449 – Pathways to Health Careers Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Davis (D-IL) and 44 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide a pathway to health careers through health profession opportunity grants. Specifically, the bill would use a two-generation approach that combines job training with critical family supports (such as child care, transportation, and career coaching) that low-income parents need to achieve health care career goals.
H.R. 4495 – Downpayment Toward Equity Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Waters (D-CA) and 65 cosponsors, this bill would provide downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers to address multigenerational inequities in access to homeownership and to narrow and ultimately close the racial homeownership gap in the United States.
H.R. 4555 – Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Cardenas (D-CA), Bilirakis (R-FL), and Barragan (D-CA), this bill would authorize a public education campaign across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration to increase oral health literacy and awareness. This bill passed the House on December 8, 2021.
- Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and five cosponsors, this bill would study the effects of changes to telehealth under the Medicare and Medicaid programs during the COVID-19 emergency.
H.R. 5219 – Affordable Housing Equity Act
- Introduced by Reps. Gomez (D-CA) and DelBene (D-WA), this bill would designate projects serving extremely low-income households for purposes of allocating the State housing credit ceiling and determining an increased amount of low-income housing tax credit. Specifically, the bill would enhance the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to directly incentivize the development of affordable housing for extremely low income (ELI) households.
H.R. 5240 – Rural Health Training Opportunities Act
- Introduced by Rep. Sewell (D-AL), this bill would require geographical diversity in the provision of health profession opportunity grants under section 2008 of the Social Security Act, and to require the support services provided through the use of the grants to include a transportation assistance plan.
H.R. 5267 – Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants Act
- Introduced by Reps. Williams (D-GA), Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and Jeffries (D-NY), this bill would direct the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration to establish a program to provide grants for reconnecting neighborhoods that have been intentionally divided by infrastructural barriers and projects of the past.
H.R. 5688 – People-Centered Assistance Reform Effort (CARE) Act
- Introduced by Rep. Davidson (R-OH), this bill would establish the People-Centered Assistance Reform Commission, to improve the social safety net and increase social mobility by increasing access to resources which address the underlying causes of poverty.
H.R. 5742 – Equal Health Care for All Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Schiff (D-CA) and 22 cosponsors, this bill would prohibit discrimination in health care and require the provision of equitable health care. The bill would address racial inequities in America’s health care system by making equitable medical care a protected civil right.
H.R. 6268 – Protect Black Women and Girls Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-IL), Clarke (D-NY), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Watson Coleman (D-NJ), this bill would establish an Interagency Task Force to examine the conditions and experiences of Black women and girls in education, economic development, healthcare, labor and employment, housing, justice and civil rights, to promote community-based methods for mitigating and addressing harm and ensuring accountability, and to study societal effects on Black women and girls.
H.R. 6334 – SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Neguse (D-CO), this bill would amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry out supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
H.R. 6373 – Digital Literacy and Equity Commission Act
- Introduced by Rep. Lawrence (D-MI) and seven cosponsors, this bill would establish the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission, which would bring together agency heads and experts to assess digital literacy in the US, recommend how to measure digital literacy, and promote interagency cooperation.
H.R. 6584 – Diverse and Equitable Participation in Clinical Trials (DEPICT) Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Eshoo (D-CA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Kelly (D-IL), this bill would direct the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to amend certain regulations to increase clinical trial diversity. The bill would require enhanced data reporting on clinical trial demographics and provide resources to improve access to clinical trials.
H.R. 7003 – Expanding Financial Access for Underserved Communities Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Waters (D-CA), Perlmutter (D-CO), and Scott (D-GA), this bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to permit credit unions to serve certain underserved areas to allow more access for persons in underserved areas.
H.R. 7060 – Connect Unserved Americans Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Johnson (R-SD), O’Halleran (D-AZ), Herrell (R-NM), and Kuster (D-NH), this bill would modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service.
H.R. 7383 – Improving Access to Health Care in Rural and Underserved Areas Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Lee (D-NV), Joyce (R-OH), O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would establish a program ensuring access to accredited continuing medical education for primary care physicians and other health care providers at FQHCs and rural health clinics, to provide training and clinical support for primary care providers to practice at their full scope and improve access to care for patients in underserved areas.
H.R. 7585 – Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, this bill would address social determinants of health, reduce racial and ethnic health inequities, improve access for underserved communities, address maternal health, and more. The package also included provisions included in the Social Determinants Accelerator Act to establish an interagency council on SDOH and award grants to eligible entities for the development of social determinants accelerator plans.
H.R. 7755 – John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Reps. Sewell (D-AL), Doggett (D-TX), Evans (D-PA), Gomez (D-CA), Suozzi (D-NY), and Strickland (D-WA), this bill would require the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) to work with experts to consider health disparities when developing payment models. The bill would direct CMMI to consider a model’s impact on access to care for people of color, women, and people in rural areas, and to create a Social Determinants of Health Model that focuses on health conditions of those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, maternal mortality, and behavioral health.
H.R. 7845 – NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-CA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Cardenas (D-CA), Butterfield (D-NC) and Clarke (D-NY), this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to take certain steps to increase clinical trial diversity.
H.R. 7857 – Minority Fellowship Reauthorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Watson-Coleman (D-NJ), Katko (R-NY) and Butterfield (D-NC), this bill would reauthorize the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program, which is dedicated to closing racial mental health gaps and improving mental health care outcomes for underserved communities.
H.R. 8335 – Equality for Families with Disabilities Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Langevin (D-RI), Bass (D-CA), Bacon (R-NE), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Lawrence (D-MI), this bill would protect individuals with disabilities who are parents, legal guardians, relatives, other caregivers, foster or adoptive parents, or individuals seeking to become foster or adoptive parents from discrimination in the child welfare system.
H.R. 8502 – Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Leger Fernandez (D-NM), McGovern (D-MA), Stansbury (D-NM), and Gallego (D-AZ), this bill would promote Tribal food sovereignty and improve nutrition in tribal areas, as well as make it easier for Native children to have equitable access to free meals at school.
H.R. 8508 – Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. O’Halleran (D-AZ) and Harshbarger (R-TN), this bill would support rural residency training funding that is equitable for all States. The bill would improve Medicare reimbursement and enhance the current structure of the Medicare-funded graduate medical education program to bring more medical residents and doctors to rural areas.
H.R. 8692 – Physicians for Underserved Areas Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Lee (D-NV) and McKinley (R-WV), this bill would make improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes. The bill would help address the nationwide physician shortage by sending federally-funded medical residency slots to areas where doctors are most needed.
H.R. 8795 – Wayne Ford Racial Impact Statement Act
- Introduced by Rep. Torres (D-NY), this bill would establish a process for the creation of minority impact assessments to determine whether pending bills, if enacted, are likely to create or exacerbate disparate outcomes among racial or ethnic minority groups.
H.R. 8858 – Digital Equity Foundation Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Matsui (D-CA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Eshoo (D-CA), and Smith (D-WA), this bill would establish a Foundation for Digital Equity to leverage public and private investments to make progress closing the divide on digital equity, digital inclusion, and digital literacy.
H.R. 8984 – Medical Care Equity Act
- Introduced by Rep. Higgins (R-LA), this bill would provide a deduction for certain charity care furnished by physicians who provide pro-bono health services, which would result in more readily available medical care for Americans, particularly for vulnerable citizens.
H.R. 9323 – Lifting American Children from Poverty Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Velazquez (D-NY), Evans (D-PA), Chu (D-CA), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Garcia (D-IL), and Watson Coleman (D-NJ), this bill would establish an interagency task force on child and family economic security and stability for economic growth.
H.R. 9400 – Assessing Health Evaluations to Advance Decision-making (AHEAD) Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Rep. Trone (D-MD), this bill would provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the potential benefits on population health outcomes of incorporating into the Federal legislative process tools that measure the impacts of proposed legislation (including in areas outside of health care) on health and health disparities.
H.R. 9402 – Equity in STD Testing Act
- Introduced by Reps. Williams (D-GA) and Lee (D-CA), this bill would require the coverage of testing for certain sexually transmitted infections without the imposition of cost sharing.
H.R. 9504 – Period PROUD (Providing Resources for Our Underserved and Disadvantaged) Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Casten (D-IL) and Meng (D-NY), this bill would provide targeted funding for States and other eligible entities through the Social Services Block Grant program to increase the availability of menstrual products for individuals with limited access to such products.
H.R. 9579 – Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Reps. Crow (D-CO) and Wilson (D-FL), this bill would allow Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program assistance to be used to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. It would also require states to create a plan to identify and record youth data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, and to provide publicly-accessible annual report on progress to address racial and ethnic disparities, among other provisions.
H.R. 9609 – Federal Government Equity Improvement Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Maloney (D-NY) and Pressley (D-MA), this bill would establish an Agency Equity Advisory Team and ensure the use of equity. Specifically, this bill would establish several intra-agency and inter-agency working groups to allow agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and stakeholders to share best practices in the collection and use of data for assessing barriers to equity, among other things.
H.R. 9610 – Equity in Agency Planning Act of 2022
- Introduced by Reps. Maloney (D-NY) and Pressley (D-MA), this bill would improve the equitable provision of services to underserved communities and individuals. Specifically, the bill would amend various agency performance planning requirements to ensure that agencies prioritize improving the equitable provision of services in their agency goals.
Senate
S. 162 – Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Warren (D-MA), Hirono (D-HI), Merkley (D-OR), Smith (D-MN), and Markey (D-MA), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for public health research and investment into understanding and eliminating structural racism and police violence.
S. 201 – Improving Access to Health Care in Rural Underserved Areas Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would establish a program ensuring access to accredited continuing medical education for primary care physicians and other health care providers at Federally-qualified health centers and rural health clinics, to provide training and clinical support for primary care providers to practice at their full scope and improve access to care for patients in underserved areas.
- Introduced by Sens. Cassidy (R-LA) and Schatz (D-HI), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide that the authority of the Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to make certain research endowments applies with respect to both current and former centers of excellence. The bill would increase investments in schools conducting critical research into minority health disparities. This bill passed the Senate on March 10, 2021.
S. 324 – COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Warren (D-MA) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would report data on COVID-19 in Federal, State, and local correctional facilities.
S. 465 – COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and 15 cosponsors, this bill would establish and support public awareness campaigns to address COVID-19-related health disparities and promote vaccination.
S. 512 – Equitable Data Collection and Disclosure on COVID-19 Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Warren (D-MA) and 11 cosponsors, this bill would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to collect and report certain data concerning COVID-19.
S. 783 – COVID Communities Care Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Warren (D-MA), Padilla (D-CA), Markey (D-MA), Smith (D-MN), Merkley (D-OR), and Blumenthal (D-CT), this bill would provide FY2021 supplemental appropriations for HHS to implement programs to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 in medically underserved areas. The bill designates the funding as emergency spending.
S. 922 – Eliminate the Digital Divide Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Cornyn (R-TX) and Manchin (D-WV), this bill would amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding to states for extending broadband service to underserved areas in partnership with broadband service providers.
- Introduced by Sen. Warnock (D-GA), this bill would required the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on disparities associated with race and ethnicity with respect to certain benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
S. 1368 – American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Sanders (I-VT), Hirono (D-HI), and Merkley (D-OR), this bill would make housing more affordable. The bill would help produce nearly three million new housing units, reduce rents by 10 percent with no deficit impact, and make important steps to address the racial wealth gap and reduce exclusionary zoning laws.
S. 1397 – Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Murkowski (R-AK), Tester (D-MT), Daines (R-MT), Warren (D-MA) and Cramer (R-ND), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the collection and availability of health data with respect to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. The bill would help Tribes, which have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and other health disparities, to address COVID-19 and other public health challenges by strengthening data sharing between Tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Centers, and the CDC.
S. 1679 – Allied Health Workforce Diversity Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would authorize assistance for increasing workforce diversity in the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, and speech-language pathology.
S. 1795 – Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and 12 cosponsors, this bill would address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color.
S. 1810 – Conrad State 30 & Physician Access Reauthorization Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) and nine bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide incentives to physicians to practice in rural and medically underserved communities.
S. 1893 – Rural Physician Workforce Production Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Tester (D-MT), Barrasso (R-WY) and nine bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would support rural residency training funding that is equitable for all States. The bill would improve Medicare reimbursement and enhance the current structure of the Medicare-funded graduate medical education program to bring more medical residents and doctors to rural areas.
- Introduced by Sens. Bennet (D-CO), King (I-ME), and Portman (R-OH), this bill would provide grants to states, territories, Puerto Rico, DC, and eligible Tribal entities to promote access to affordable, high-speed broadband and digital equity.
S. 2226 – Native Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Cramer (R-ND), Tester (D-MT), Lujan (D-NM), Warren (D-MA), and Cortez Masto (D-NV), this bill would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to authorize a special behavioral health program for Indians.
S. 2549 – Mapping Housing Discrimination Act
- Introduced by Sen. Smith (D-MN) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would authorize a grant program for educational institutions to analyze, digitize, and map historic records relating to a housing discrimination. Specifically, the bill would examine the history of racially restrictive covenants, which were used as tools of discrimination to keep Black families and households of color from moving to certain neighborhoods, to better understand the scope of these covenants.
S. 2757 – SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Rounds (R-SD), and seven cosponsors, this bill would amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into self-determination contracts with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations to carry out supplemental nutrition assistance programs.
S. 2873 – Preventing and Addressing Trauma with Health Services (PATHS) Act
- Introduced by Sens. Coons (D-DE), Booker (D-NJ), and Durbin (D-IL), this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to establish or expand programs and activities to increase access to high-quality culturally competent trauma support and mental health care.
S. 2920 – Downpayment Toward Equity Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Warnock (D-GA), Brown (D-OH), Kaine (D-VA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warren (D-MA), and Warner (D-VA), this bill would provide downpayment assistance to first-generation homebuyers to address multigenerational inequities in access to homeownership and to narrow and ultimately close the racial homeownership gap in the United States.
S. 3050 – Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act
- Introduced by Sens. Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Brown (D-OH), Durbin (D-IL), Booker (D-NJ), Padilla (D-CA), and Baldwin (D-WI), this bill would remove limitations under Medicaid, Medicare, CHIP and the Department of Veterans Affairs on benefits for persons in custody pending disposition of charges. The bill aims to address the gap in coverage for individuals covered by federal health programs while awaiting trial.
S. 3073 – Equal Health Care for All Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Padilla (D-CA), this bill would prohibit discrimination in health care and require the provision of equitable health care. The bill would address racial inequities in America’s health care system by making equitable medical care a protected civil right.
S. 3189 – Pathways to Health Careers Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Heinrich (D-NM), Wyden (D-OR), Lujan (D-NM), Murphy (D-CT), Blumenthal (D-CT), and Rosen (D-NV), this bill would provide a pathway to health careers through health profession opportunity grants. Specifically, the bill would use a two-generation approach that combines job training with critical family supports (such as child care, transportation, and career coaching) that low-income parents need to achieve health care career goals.
S. 3422 – Expanding Medical Education Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Kaine (D-VA), Feinstein (D-CA), and Padilla (D-CA), this bill would establish a grant program to support schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas. The bill aims to tackle underrepresentation of rural students, underserved students, and students of color in the physician pipeline.
S. 3587 – Connect Unserved Americans Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Thune (R-SD), Smith (D-MN), Wicker (R-MS), and Casey (D-PA), this bill would modify conditions of funding for the distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband program of the Rural Utilities Service.
S. 4067 – John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Brown (D-OH), and Padilla (D-CA), this bill would require the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) to work with experts to consider health disparities when developing payment models. The bill would direct CMMI to consider a model’s impact on access to care for people of color, women, and people in rural areas, and to create a Social Determinants of Health Model that focuses on health conditions of those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, maternal mortality, and behavioral health.
S. 4234 – Physicians for Underserved Areas Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Boozman (R-AR), this bill would make improvements to the redistribution of residency slots under the Medicare program after a hospital closes. The bill would help address the nationwide physician shortage by sending federally-funded medical residency slots to areas where doctors are most needed.
S. 4398 – Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Whitehouse (D-RI), Warren (D-MA), Markey (D-MA), Brown (D-OH), Sanders (I-VT) and Klobuchar (D-MN), this bill would allow Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Program assistance to be used to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. It would also require states to create a plan to identify and record youth data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, and to provide publicly-accessible annual report on progress to address racial and ethnic disparities, among other provisions.
S. 4486 – Health Equity and Accountability Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Warnock (D-GA), and nine cosponsors, this bill would improve the health of minority individuals and provide a roadmap to eliminate racial and ethnic health inequities. The bill lays out additional investments Congress must take to enhance the health and well-being of systematically marginalized and underserved communities, address health disparities, and ensure access to high quality and affordable care.
S. 4544 – Health Equity for People with Disabilities Act
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Kaine (D-VA), Duckworth (D-IL), and Merkley (D-OR), this bill would provide health equity for people with disabilities.
S.4625 – Tribal Nutrition Improvement Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Heinrich (D-NM), this bill would promote Tribal food sovereignty and improve nutrition in tribal areas, as well as make it easier for Native children to have equitable access to free meals at school.
S. 4865 – Digital Equity Foundation Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Lujan (D-NM), Merkley (D-OR), Heinrich (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Blumenthal (D-CT), and Klobuchar (D-MN), this bill would establish a Foundation for Digital Equity to leverage public and private investments to make progress closing the divide on digital equity, digital inclusion, and digital literacy.
S. 4879 – Expanding Financial Access for Underserved Communities Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Padilla (D-CA), this bill would amend the Federal Credit Union Act to permit credit unions to serve certain underserved areas to allow more access for persons in underserved areas.
S. 4917 – Minority Fellowship Program Reauthorization Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Collins (R-ME), this bill would reauthorize through FY2027 the Minority Fellowship Program carried out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The program supports the education and training of minority students who are studying for advanced degrees in a mental or behavioral health profession.
S. 5073 – Oral Health Literacy and Awareness Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Lujan (D-NM), Collins (R-ME), and Cardin (D-MD), this bill would authorize a public education campaign across all relevant programs of the Health Resources and Services Administration to increase oral health literacy and awareness.
S. 5140 – Tribal HUD VASH Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Tester (D-MT), Hoeven (R-ND), Lujan (D-NM), and Cramer (R-ND), this bill would provide for rental assistance for homeless or at-risk Indian veterans and codify a housing initiative between the VA and HUD.
S. 5162 – Assessing Health Evaluations to Advance Decision-making (AHEAD) Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Cardin (D-MD), Booker (D-NJ), Bennet (D-CO), and Brown (D-OH), this bill would provide for a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the potential benefits on population health outcomes of incorporating into the Federal legislative process tools that measure the impacts of proposed legislation (including in areas outside of health care) on health and health disparities.
S. 5181 – American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans Mental Health Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Tester (D-MT) and Moran (R-KS), this bill would make certain improvements relating to mental health and suicide prevention outreach to minority veterans and American Indian and Alaska Native veterans.
S. 5268 – NIH Clinical Trial Diversity Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Collins (R-ME), this bill would increase clinical trial diversity.
S. 5293 – Health Enterprises Zones Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sen. Padilla (D-CA), this bill would provide for the designation of areas as Health Enterprise Zones to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in such areas.
* Denotes bicameral legislation
House of Representatives
- Introduced by Rep. Cohen (D-TN) and 11 cosponsors, this bill would authorize funding for the creation and implementation of infant mortality pilot programs in standard metropolitan statistical areas with high rates of infant mortality.
H.R. 259 – End Diaper Need Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Lee (D-CA) and 13 cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to address the increased burden that maintaining the health and hygiene of infants and toddlers places on families in need, the resultant adverse health effects on children and families, and the limited child care options available for infants and toddlers who lack sufficient diapers.
H.R. 482 – Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and 24 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs under part A of title XI of such Act relating to genetic diseases. This bill passed the House on June 23, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
H.R. 769 – Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services (MOMS) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Newhouse (R-WA) and 10 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care in rural areas.
H.R. 909 – Moms Matter Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Katko (R-NY), Underwood (D-IL), and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to establish a program to award grants to eligible entities to address maternal mental health conditions and substance use disorders with respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus on racial and ethnic minority groups.
H.R. 925 – Data to Save Moms Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Davids (D-KS) and 34 cosponsors, this bill would authorize funding for maternal mortality review committees to promote representative community engagement.
H.R. 937 – Tech to Save Moms Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Johnson (D-TX) and 34 cosponsors, this bill would integrate telehealth models in maternity care services.
H.R. 943 – Social Determinants for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Reps. McBath (D-GA) and 33 cosponsors, this bill would address social determinants of maternal health with respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals.
H.R. 945 – Perinatal Workforce Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Moore (D-WI) and 34 cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS to issue guidance to states to educate providers, managed care entities, and other insurers about the value and process of delivering respectful maternal health care through diverse and multidisciplinary care provider models.
H.R. 948 – Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and 33 cosponsors, this bill would improve maternal health outcomes for incarcerated individuals.
H.R. 950 – Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To (IMPACT) to Save Moms Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL) and 33 cosponsors, this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and implement a Perinatal Care Alternative Payment Model Demonstration Project.
H.R. 957 – Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Underwood (D-IL) and 33 cosponsors, this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to protect vulnerable mothers and babies from climate change risks.
H.R. 958 – Protecting Moms Who Served Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Underwood (D-IL), Bilirakis (R-FL), Brownley (D-CA), and Fitzpatrick (R-PA), this bill would codify maternity care coordination programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill passed the House on May 12, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
H.R. 959 – Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Underwood (D-IL) and 82 cosponsors, this bill would end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes.
H.R. 1065 – Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Nadler(D-NY), Katko (R-NY), McBath (D-GA), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Scott (D-VA), this bill would eliminate discrimination and promote women’s health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. This bill passed the House on May 15, 2021 and is now being considered in the Senate.
- Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC) and 32 cosponsors, this bill would end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes.
H.R. 1218 – Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Butterfield (D-NC), Bilirakis (R-FL), and Blunt Rochester (D-DE), this bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps. The House passed this bill by a vote of 409-11 on April 5, 2022.
H.R. 1350 – Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-IL) and Latta (R-OH), this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish guidance for States on strategies for maternal care providers participating in the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such program.
H.R. 2054 – No Surprise Bills for New Moms Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Rep. Porter (D-CA) and 23 bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would provide for certain health coverage of newborns.
- Introduced by Reps. Lawrence (D-MI), Dean (D-PA), Lesko (R-AZ), Gonzalez Colon (R-PR), McBath (D-GA), and Cammack (R-FL), this bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to furnish doula services to veterans. The bill passed the House on December 1, 2022.
H.R. 2555 – Community Access, Resources, and Education (CARE) for Families Act
- Introduced by Reps. Adams (D-NC) and Scott (D-VA), this bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to establish a grant program to provide grants to local agencies and clinics to improve the health of mothers and infants.
H.R. 2556 – Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC), this bill would support states in their work to end preventable morbidity and mortality in maternity care by using evidence-based quality improvement to protect the health of mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period and to reduce neonatal and infant mortality, to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes.
H.R. 2598 – COVID-19 Safe Birthing Act
- Introduced by Reps. Pressley (D-MA), Thompson (D-MS), Takano (D-CA), Williams (D-GA), Tlaib (D-MI), Jones (D-NY), and Jackson Lee (D-TX), this bill would expand access to maternal health care.
H.R. 2701 – Opportunities to Support Mothers and Deliver Children Act
- Introduced by Rep. Moore (D-WI), this bill would provide grants for the conduct of demonstration projects designed to provide education and training for eligible individuals to enter and follow a career pathway in the field of pregnancy or childbirth, under the health profession opportunity grant program under section 2008 of the Social Security Act.
H.R. 3047 – Military Moms Matter Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Houlahan (D-PA), this bill would improve postpartum care for members of the Armed Forces and dependents of such members.
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and 25 cosponsors, this bill would improve Medicaid and CHIP for low-income mothers. Specifically, the bill would improve maternal and infant health disparities by promoting dignity, respect, and culturally-responsive support during and after pregnancy, and aims to lessen maternal mortality and morbidity by increasing coverage for pregnant people and providing comprehensive, affordable maternal health care services.
H.R. 3110 – Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Maloney (D-NY), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Adams (D-NC), and Underwood (D-IL), this bill would expand access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace. This bill passed the House on October 22, 2021.
H.R. 3126 – Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (MOM) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and 47 cosponsors, this bill would provide for a special enrollment period for pregnant women.
H.R. 3337 – Birth Access Benefitting Improved Essential Facility Services (BABIES) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Clark (D-MA), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Hinson (R-IA), this bill would establish a Medicaid demonstration program to develop and advance innovative payment models for freestanding birth center services for women with a low-risk pregnancy.
H.R. 3345 – Helping Medicaid Offer Maternity Services (Helping MOMS) Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Kelly (D-IL), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Underwood (D-IL), Pressley (D-MA), and Gonazlez (R-OH), this bill would promote extended coverage of pregnant and postpartum women under the Medicaid program.
H.R. 3352 – Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (Midwives for MOMS) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Clark (D-MA), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Hinson (R-IA), this bill would address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives.
H.R. 3407 – Mothers and Offspring Mortality & Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA’s) Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and 25 cosponsors, this bill would improve Federal efforts with respect to the prevention of maternal mortality.
H.R. 3688 – Modernizing Obstetric Medicine Standards (MOMS) Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Rep. Adams (D-NC), this bill would address maternal mortality and morbidity.
- Introduced by Reps. Barragan (D-CA), Bucshon (R-IN), Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Kim (R-CA), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a Task Force on Maternal Mental Health.
H.R. 4387 – Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (MHQIA) (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rep. Kelly (D-IL) and nine bipartisan cosponsors, this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal health, to improve obstetric care in rural areas, and for other purposes. The bill would implement evidence-based best practices and policies within the medical community to improve maternal health outcomes, support health professional training programs focused on biases that may affect quality of maternal care for racial and ethnic groups, and provide funding to establish rural obstetric networks to improve birth outcomes and reduce maternal morbidity in rural areas.
H.R. 4576 – Support Through Loss Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) and six cosponsors, this bill would allow Americans to receive paid leave time to process and address their own health needs and the health needs of their partners during the period following a pregnancy loss, an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure, a failed adoption arrangement, a failed surrogacy arrangement, or a diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility, to support related research and education, and for other purposes.
H.R. 4902 – Improving Diaper Affordability Act of 2021
- Introduced by Reps. Watson Coleman (D-NJ), DeLauro (D-CT), Lee (D-CA), Maloney (D-NY), and Sires (D-NJ), this bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat diapers as qualified medical expenses; and to prohibit States and local governments to impose a tax on the retail sale of diapers. The bill would also make the purchase of diapers reimbursable through health savings accounts, giving families more flexibility and savings when buying them.
H.R. 4916 – Protect Moms from Domestic Violence Act*
- Introduced by Reps. Moore (D-WI), Underwood (D-IL), Adams (D-NC), and Kuster (D-NH), this bill would study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity as a result of being a victim of intimate partner violence. The bill would study domestic and sexual violence as a social determinant of health and award grants to programs that improve maternal and child health outcomes of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
- Introduced by Rep. Fortenberry (R-NE) and nine cosponsors, this bill would facilitate support and services to women who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy, to meet the emotional, physical, social, financial, and other needs women encounter during pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing.
H.R. 5738 – Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Luria (D-VA), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Houlahan (D-PA), this bill would require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill passed the House on May 18 by a vote of 420-0 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
H.R. 5934 – Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act of 2021 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Manning (D-NC), Thompson (R-PA), Trone (D-MD), Guthrie (R-KY), and Kuster (D-NH), this bill would amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to support women, infants, and children impacted by substance use disorder. The bill would instruct the HHS Secretary and Secretary of Agriculture to collaborate in the development of evidence-based nutrition education materials for WIC-eligible pregnant women and caregivers to infants impacted by NAS, and ensure WIC conducts outreach to those who may be eligible for the program and are impacted by substance use disorder.
H.R. 5995 – Pregnancy Loss Mental Health Research Act of 2021
- Introduced by Rep. Emmer (R-MN) and 25 cosponsors, this bill would provide research on, and services for, individuals with clinical mental health complications following a pregnancy loss. The bill would direct NIH to prioritize resources into clinical mental health complications following a pregnancy loss to help women cope with the loss of a child.
H.R. 6612 – Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act
- Introduced by Rep. Manning (D-NC) and 19 cosponsors, this bill would provide a higher federal matching rate for increased expenditures under Medicaid for maternal health care services.
H.R. 6878 – Pregnant Women in Custody Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Bass (D-CA), Reschenthaler (R-PA), and 22 cosponsors, this bill would address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth. Specifically, the bill would provide a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and post-partum periods. The bill passed the House on December 1, 2022.
H.R. 7011 – Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Adams (D-NC) and Hinson (R-IA), this bill would expand the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to support stillbirth prevention and research.
H.R. 7073 – Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and SUD Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Clark (D-MA), Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Matsui (D-CA), Burgess (R-TX), Clarke (D-NY), and Kim (R-CA), this bill would reauthorize a grant program for screening, assessment, and treatment services for maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
- Introduced by Reps. Moore (D-WI), Underwood (D-IL), Adams (D-NC), Dingell (D-MI), and Pressley (D-MA), this bill would provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by doulas and midwives. The bill would significantly expand access to doulas and midwife services, increase the focus on culturally competent and patient-centered care, and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in underserved and under-resourced communities.
- Introduced by Reps. Underwood (D-IL) and Herrera Beutler (R-WA), this bill would continue to fund the NIH IMPROVE Initiative through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to better understand factors that lead to adverse maternal health outcomes and inequities. The bill would authorize $30 million per year for this program over the next five years so the NIH can continue to carry out life-saving maternal health research.
H.R. 7781 – Urgently Feeding America’s Babies Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Buchanan (R-FL) and nine cosponsors, this bill would designate baby formula as a scarce and critical material under the Defense Production Act of 1950.
H.R. 8057 – Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Jacobs (D-CA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Bass (D-CA), Kim (R-CA), Salazar (R-FL), and McCollum (D-MN), this bill would implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally.
H.R. 8181 – Optimizing Postpartum Outcomes Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Blunt Rochester (D-DE), this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS to issue guidance on coverage under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act of certain pelvic health services furnished during the postpartum period.
H.R. 8669 – Community Mentor for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Rep. Miller (R-WV), this bill would create a grant program to fund community-based integrated maternal mentoring services and programs for low-income mothers.
H.R. 8695 – Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Porter (D-CA), Salazar (R-FL), and Swalwell (D-CA), this bill would amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening.
H.R. 9111 – Infants Need Food and Nutrition Today (INFANT) Act
- Introduced by Rep. Peltola (D-AK), this bill would require the Secretary of Agriculture to allow infant food combinations and dinners as WIC-eligible foods.
H.R. 9196 – Access to Donor Milk Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Houlahan (D-PA), Salazar (R-FL), Bice (R-OK), and Swalwell (D-CA), this bill would protect and expand access to donor breast milk, bettering child health and combating the infant formula shortage. The bill would increase federal support for nonprofit milk banks and access to donor milk for medically-vulnerable infants.
H.R. 9487 – Advancing Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act of 2022 (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Reps. Castor (D-FL), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Underwood (D-IL), this bill would implement certain recommendations to promote the inclusion of pregnant and lactating women in clinical research.
H.R. 9546 – Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Frankel (D-FL), Salazar (R-FL), and Burgess (R-TX), this bill would identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under State Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women.
H.R. 9602– Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Rep. Underwood (D-IL), this bill would improve the public health response to addressing maternal mortality and morbidity during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
H.R. 2617 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
- On December 29, President Biden signed this bill into law, which will make $1.7 trillion in appropriations for FY 2023, as well as several key health care extenders and new authorizations. This package included significant maternal health policies, funding, and initiatives. A full summary of maternal health provisions included in the package can be found here.
Senate
S. 198 – Data Mapping to Save Moms’ Lives Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Rosen (D-NV), Fischer (R-NE), Young (R-IN), and Schatz (D-HI), this bill would require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps. The bill was signed into law on December 20, 2023.
S. 287 – Perinatal Workforce Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Baldwin (D-WI) and Merkley (D-OR), this bill would direct the Secretary of HHS to issue guidance to states to educate providers, managed care entities, and other insurers about the value and process of delivering respectful maternal health care through diverse and multidisciplinary care provider models.
S. 304 – End Diaper Need Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Cramer (R-ND), Casey (D-PA), Durbin (D-IL), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Smith (D-MN), this bill would provide targeted funding for States and other eligible entities through the Social Services Block Grant program to address the increased burden that maintaining the health and hygiene of infants and toddlers, medically complex children, and low-income adults or adults with disabilities who rely on adult incontinence materials and supplies place on families in need, the resultant adverse health effects on children and families, and the limited child care options available for infants and toddlers who lack sufficient diapers and diapering supplies.
S. 334 – Innovative Maternal Payment and Coverage To (IMPACT) Save Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Casey (D-PA), Menendez (D-NJ), and Booker (D-NJ), this bill would establish an alternative payment model demonstration project for maternity care provided to pregnant and postpartum individuals under State Medicaid and CHIP programs.
S. 341 – Justice for Incarcerated Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Durbin (D-IL), and Hirono (D-HI), this bill would provide justice for incarcerated moms.
S. 346 – Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021*
- Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ) and 20 cosponsors, this bill would end preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States and close disparities in maternal health outcomes.
S. 347 – Data to Save Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Blumenthal (D-CT), Klobuchar (D-MN) and Markey (D-MA), this bill would improve the collection and review of maternal health data to address maternal mortality, serve maternal morbidity, and other adverse maternal health outcomes.
S. 350 – Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Hassan (D-NH) and Wicker (R-MS), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain programs under part A of title XI of such Act relating to genetic diseases.
S. 408 – Supporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Toomey (R-PA) and Brown (D-OH), this bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish guidance for States on strategies for maternal care providers participating in the Medicaid program to reduce maternal mortality and severe morbidity with respect to individuals receiving medical assistance under such program.
S. 411 – Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA’s) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Durbin (D-IL) and nine cosponsors, this bill would improve Federal efforts with respect to the prevention of maternal mortality.
S. 423 – Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Blumenthal (D-CT), Sanders (I-VT), and Bennet (D-CO), this bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program to protect vulnerable mothers and babies from climate change risks.
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY), Smith (D-MN), Shaheen (D-NH), and Sanders (I-VT), this bill would establish grant programs for maternal mental health equity and to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral health care workforce.
S. 796 – Protecting Moms Who Served Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL) and Collins (R-ME), this bill would codify maternity care coordination programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill became law on November 30, 2021.
S. 801 – Connected Maternal Online Monitoring Services (MOM) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Cassidy (R-LA), Hassan (D-NH), Carper (D-DE), Young (R-IN), and Rosen (D-NV), this bill would identify and address barriers to coverage of remote physiologic devices under state Medicaid programs to improve maternal and child health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women.
S. 851 – Social Determinants for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT), this bill would address social determinants of maternal health with respect to pregnant and postpartum individuals.
S. 893 – Tech to Save Moms Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and Sullivan (R-AK), this bill would support the use of technology in maternal health care.
- Introduced by Sens. Warnock (D-GA), Padilla (D-CA), Booker (D-NJ), Van Hollen (D-MD), Menendez (D-NJ), and Smith (D-MN), this bill would prevent maternal mortality and serve maternal morbidity among Black pregnant and postpartum individuals and other underserved populations, provide training in respectful maternity care, and reduce and prevent bias, racism, and discrimination in maternity care settings.
S. 1234 – Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY), this bill would support states in their work to end preventable morbidity and mortality in maternity care by using evidence-based quality improvement to protect the health of mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum period and to reduce neonatal and infant mortality, to eliminate racial disparities in maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes.
S. 1333 – Modernizing Obstetrics Medicine Standards (MOMS) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Gillibrand (D-NY), this bill would address maternal mortality and morbidity by providing states and hospitals with access to new resources to develop and implement standardized best practices to prevent and respond to complications arising from pregnancy.
S. 1451 – Reach Every Mother and Child Act of 2021 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Collins (R-ME) and Coons (D-DE), this bill would implement policies to end preventable maternal, newborn, and child deaths globally.
S. 1491 – Rural MOMS Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Smith (D-MN), Murkowski (R-AK), Angus (I-ME), Ernst (R-IA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Stabenow (D-MI), and Lujan (D-NM), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care in rural areas.
- Introduced by Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Baldwin (D-WI), Gillibrand (D-NY), Blumenthal (D-CT), Stabenow (D-MI), and Warren (D-MA), this bill would improve Medicaid and CHIP for low-income mothers. Specifically, the bill would improve maternal and infant health disparities by promoting dignity, respect, and culturally-responsive support during and after pregnancy, and aims to lessen maternal mortality and morbidity by increasing coverage for pregnant people and providing comprehensive, affordable maternal health care services.
- Introduced by Sens. Portman (R-OH) and Stabenow (D-MI), this bill would provide states with the option to provide coordinated care through a pregnancy medical home for high-risk pregnant women.
S. 1658 – Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Murkowski (R-AK), Booker (D-NJ), Casey (D-PA), and Duckworth (D-IL), this bill would expand access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace.
S. 1675 – Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Warnock (D-GA), Rubio (R-FL), Smith (D-MN), Marshall (R-KS), Hassan (D-NH), and Cassidy (R-LA), this bill would improve maternal health.
S. 1697 – Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (Midwives for MOMS) Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Lujan (D-NM) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would address maternity care shortages and promote optimal maternity outcomes by expanding educational opportunities for midwives.
S. 1716 – Birth Access Benefitting Improved Essential Facility Services (BABIES) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Lujan (D-NM), this bill would establish a Medicaid demonstration program to develop and advance innovative payment models for freestanding birth center services for women with a low-risk pregnancy.
S. 1804 – Mothers and Newborns Success Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Kaine (D-VA) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to improve maternal health and promote safe motherhood and reduce racial inequities in maternal and infant mortality.
S. 1937 – Delivering Optimally Urgent Labor Access for Veterans Affairs (DOULA for VA) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Booker (D-NJ), this bill would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to furnish doula services to veterans.
S. 1977 – Improving Coverage and Care for Mothers Act
- Introduced by Sen. Casey (D-PA), this bill would provide Medicaid coverage for all pregnant and postpartum women, to provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants, and other purposes.
S. 2390 – Support Through Loss Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Gillibrand (D-NY), Blumenthal (D-CT), and Baldwin (D-WI), this bill would allow Americans to receive paid leave time to process and address their own health needs and the health needs of their partners during the period following a pregnancy loss, an unsuccessful round of intrauterine insemination or of an assisted reproductive technology procedure, a failed adoption arrangement, a failed surrogacy arrangement, or a diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility, to support related research and education, and for other purposes.
S. 2588 – Protect Moms from Domestic Violence Act*
- Introduced by Sens. Shaheen (D-NH) and Klobuchar (D-MN), this bill would study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity as a result of being a victim of intimate partner violence. The bill would study domestic and sexual violence as a social determinant of health and award grants to programs that improve maternal and child health outcomes of survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
- Introduced by Sens. Hassan (D-NH) and Tillis (R-NC), this bill would provide for the establishment of a Task Force on Maternal Mental Health. Specifically, the bill would improve maternal mental health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients, including working to address postpartum depression and anxiety, and maternal suicide.
S. 3239 – Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine (MOM) Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Brown (D-OH) and 14 cosponsors, this bill would provide for a special enrollment period for pregnant persons and ensure comprehensive coverage of maternity care, including labor and delivery, for dependent children covered by group health plans and other forms of employer-sponsored coverage. It would also require states to provide 12 months of continuous Medicaid eligibility for postpartum individuals.
S. 3362 – Improving Coordination for Healthy Moms Act (bipartisan)
- Introduced by Sens. Warnock (D-GA) and Rubio (R-FL), this bill would require the Healthy People Maternal, Infant, and Child Health Workgroup and the Maternal Health Working Group to establish a formal coordinated approach for monitoring maternal health efforts across HHS.
S. 3797 – Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Merkley (D-OR) and Cassidy (R-LA), this bill would expand the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant to support stillbirth prevention and research.
S. 3824 – Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and SUD Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY), Capito (R-WV), Baldwin (D-WI), and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would reauthorize a grant program for screening, assessment, and treatment services for maternal mental health and substance use disorders.
- Introduced by Sens. Warren (D-MA), Booker (D-NJ), Casey (D-PA), Padilla (D-CA), Sanders (I-VT), Duckworth (D-IL), and Blumenthal (D-CT), this bill would provide coverage under the Medicaid program for services provided by doulas and midwives. The bill would significantly expand access to doulas and midwife services, increase the focus on culturally competent and patient-centered care, and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies in underserved and under-resourced communities.
S. 4226 – Urgently Feeding America’s Babies Act of 2022 (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Rubio (R-FL), Hassan (D-NH), Scott (R-FL), Padilla (D-CA) and Capito (R-WV), this bill would designate baby formula as a scarce and critical material under the Defense Production Act of 1950.
S. 4431 – Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Reps. Casey (D-PA), Cassidy (R-LA), Murray (D-WA), and Burr (R-NC), this bill would eliminate discrimination and promote women’s health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
S. 4580 – Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Murkowski (R-AK), this bill would require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
S. 4761 – Community Mentor for Moms Act*
- Introduced by Sen. Rubio (R-FL), this bill would create a grant program to fund community-based integrated maternal mentoring services and programs for low-income mothers.
S. 4880 – Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act (bipartisan)*
- Introduced by Sens. Duckworth (D-IL), Hirono (D-HI), and Daines (R-MT), this bill would amend the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act to require hygienic handling of breast milk and baby formula by security screening personnel of the Transportation Security Administration and personnel of private security companies providing security screening.
S. 5015 – Healthy Moms and Babies Act
- Introduced by Sen. Grassley (R-IA), this bill would improve maternal and child health care. Specifically, the bill would aim to improve the delivery of high-quality coordinated care, supporting women and babies with 21st century technology, and taking other steps to reduce maternal mortality.
- Introduced by Sens. Klobuchar (D-MN) and Collins (R-ME), this bill would address the health needs of incarcerated women related to pregnancy and childbirth.
S. 5284 – Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act of 2022*
- Introduced by Sens. Warren (D-MA), Booker (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY), and Smith (D-MN), this bill would improve the public health response to addressing maternal mortality and morbidity during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
S. 5285 – Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act 2.0
- Introduced by Sens. Lujan (D-NM), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Klobuchar (D-MN), this bill would extend the residential treatment program for pregnant and postpartum women pilot program.
S. 5292 – Access to Donor Milk Act of 2022
- Introduced by Sen. Baldwin (D-IL), this bill would protect and expand access to donor breast milk for parents and their medically-vulnerable infants at nonprofit milk banks nationwide. The bill would allow state agencies to use WIC funding to promote the benefits and need for donor milk and allow WIC funds to support donor milk activities in states.
* Denotes bicameral legislation