Press Releases

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Maternal Health Workforce

Congresswoman Gwen Moore’s legislation, H.R. 5406, Opportunities to Support Mothers & Deliver Children Act, was introduced as a package of bills introduced by Ways and Means Committee Democrats. The bill authorizes demonstration projects to test a Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG)/career pathways approach to training doulas, midwives, and other pregnancy and birth professions.

HPOG supports education and job training for Temporary Assistance to Needy Family (TANF) recipients in health care occupations.

“As a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, improving maternal health outcomes is personal for me and a key priority. In the midst of a maternal health crisis, where America has the highest maternal mortality rate among wealthy nations, Congress must make interventions.

Maternal health professionals, such as doulas and midwives, are an important tool in addressing this crisis and must be more accessible to families. My legislation would allow TANF recipients to build careers in maternal health care, so they can build family-supporting careers. These efforts are critical to truly fighting poverty and improving the health of mothers and their babies.”