Critical investments to strengthen efforts to prevent preterm birth and maternal mortality nationwide
ARLINGTON, Va., February 3, 2026 – March of Dimes, the nation’s leading nonprofit fighting for the health of all moms and babies, applauds Congress for advancing critical maternal and infant health program funding and legislation through the inclusion of the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act (S.1562/H.R.1197) and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act (S.2621/H.R.1909) in the bipartisan, bicameral funding package approved by Congress.
Together, these measures represent a major step forward in addressing two of the most urgent drivers of the maternal and infant health crisis: preterm birth and preventable maternal deaths.
“Passage of these provisions is a meaningful victory for moms, babies, and families across the country,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at March of Dimes. “By reauthorizing the PREEMIE Act and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, Congress is making a clear commitment to strengthening research, improving surveillance, and investing in proven programs that save lives. These actions move us closer to a future where every mom has the chance for a healthy pregnancy and every baby has the best possible start.”
The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act renews and strengthens the federal government’s commitment to preventing preterm birth, the leading contributor to infant mortality in the U.S., by:
Reauthorizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s research and programs on preterm birth, including improved national data tracking;
Reauthorizing the Health Resources and Services Administration’s activities that promote healthy pregnancies and prevent preterm birth;
Requiring a new study examining the costs of prematurity, the factors impacting preterm birth rates, and opportunities for earlier detection of risk factors for preterm birth; and
Establishing a coordinating entity within the Department of Health and Human Services to align federal activities related to preterm birth, infant mortality, and adverse birth outcomes.
The funding package also includes the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, which safeguards and strengthens federal support for Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) through the CDC’s Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) program. These committees are essential to identifying the causes of pregnancy-related deaths and translating lessons learned into evidence-based solutions, particularly to address persistent racial and geographic disparities in maternal outcomes.
March of Dimes extends its sincere appreciation to the bipartisan champions in Congress who led and supported these efforts, including Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Boozman (R-AR), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), as well as the many advocates and more than 260 coalition partners who helped advance these lifesaving policies.
March of Dimes also applauds Congress for its support of funding priorities for key maternal and infant health programs in the package. We are grateful to Chair Susan Collins, Vice Chair Patty Murray, Chairman Tom Cole, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, and the full committees for their work to advance bipartisan legislation that works towards strengthening the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families. Key programs March of Dimes advocated for include:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The Safe Motherhood Initiative within the Division of Reproductive Health, which houses programs such as ERASE MM providing support for Maternal Mortality Review Committees, Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Systems (PRAMS), as well as other programs.
- The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD), which works to identify the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children develop and reach their full potential.
- Surveillance to Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies (SET-NET), the preparedness and response data surveillance network that enables CDC to understand the impact of infections and exposures during pregnancy and any potential impacts on the health of moms and babies.
- The 317 Immunization Program and support for immunizations during pregnancy and the Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program that provides safe, effective, and life-saving immunizations for millions of children each year.
- The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) that provides timely, detailed, and relevant datasets essential to the nation’s statistical and public health infrastructure.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- The NIH Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute of Child Health and Human Development, including funding for the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative, focusing on critical research efforts to reduce the preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve the health for women before, during, and after pregnancy.
- A request for research on how obstetric unit closures in rural hospitals are impacting patient access to care, including how the closures are affecting maternal morbidity and mortality.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- The Title V Maternal Child Health Services Block Grant, including the Special Projects of Regional and National Significance (SPRANS). The Block Grant is the backbone of the nation’s public health infrastructure for mothers, children, and families.
- The Screening and Treatment for Maternal Health and Substance Use Disorders program, which supports teleconsultations for primary care providers managing behavioral health disorders in pregnant and postpartum women.
- The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, which provides 24/7 access to trained counselors.
- Healthy Start, the community-based program focused on reducing infant mortality, with a particular emphasis on communities with infant mortality rates that are higher than the national rate.
The appropriations also include:
- Funding for newborn screening programs for both the CDC’s Quality Assurance Program, which assures the accuracy of newborn screening lab tests, and HRSA’s Heritable Disorders Program, which supports state newborn screening and follow-up programs across the country.
- Funding to support implementation of the Stillbirth Working Group’s recommendations and engage in efforts to promote evidence-based stillbirth awareness and prevention activities.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs, and provide education and advocacy so that every family can get the best possible start. Since 1938, we’ve built a successful legacy to support every pregnant person and every family. To learn more about March of Dimes, please visit marchofdimes.org.
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