Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is cosponsoring the NIH Implementing a Maternal Health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Act to provide funding for the National Institutes of Health’s IMPROVE Initiative, which conducts research to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.
Who first introduced this bill, and what does it do, specifically? The NIH IMPROVE Act, introduced by Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would authorize $73.4 million annually for the NIH IMPROVE initiative for seven years.
This initiative aims to provide consistent resources for ongoing research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.
What key figures had to say:
- Sen. Jon Ossoff: “The shockingly high maternal mortality rate for women in Georgia is a travesty. It is unacceptable for any mother to suffer or die because she lacks proper care. I am working to pass this bipartisan bill to reduce maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.”
- Sen. Katie Britt: “Every mother deserves access to quality care—before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal Health Awareness Day is an important opportunity to continue our commitment to supporting mothers, championing families, and working to ensure the best possible health outcomes for women and their babies across the nation, especially in rural and underserved areas.”
- Sen. Cory Booker: “The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable. Addressing the maternal health crisis is not a partisan issue; it is a responsibility we all share. That is why I am proud to work with my Republican colleague to stand up and demand that Congress act quickly to ensure that every mother has access to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care.”
Further Context: Notably, the NIH IMPROVE Act is a Senate companion to a House Bill of the same name. With two versions of the same bill, the likelihood of its passage increases.
In total, the bill aims to provide $73.4 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Following this, the bill seeks to establish a permanent and reliable funding source for maternal health research.
