Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Make Sure No Veteran Navigates Maternal Care Alone

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 9, 2026) - Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Supporting Veteran Mothers Act of 2026, legislation requiring Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities to maintain sufficient staffing levels of maternity care coordinators to ensure pregnant and postpartum veterans receive the care and support they deserve.

Our veterans answered the call to serve this country. When they become mothers, they should not have to fight their own government to receive maternity care.

The measure ensures the VA has the capabilities needed to support veteran mothers. Specifically, it sets minimum staffing requirements for maternity care coordinators, ensuring facilities have dedicated personnel to coordinate care from pregnancy confirmation through the postpartum period.

"Pregnancy and the postpartum period are some of the most physically and emotionally demanding times in a woman's life," said Congresswoman Mace. "Women who served this country should never have to navigate those challenges without the support and care they deserve. We owe these women access to the care they need, when they need it. Our legislation puts real staffing requirements in place, demands accountability from the VA and makes sure veteran mothers are not left navigating the system alone."

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report earlier this year found the VA Maternity Care Coordinator program lacks clear standards and a performance management process. Without them, the program has no reliable way to measure results. The VA agreed with the finding in its comments. This bill closes the gap.

The Supporting Veteran Mothers Act would:

• Establish minimum staffing requirements: Require covered VA medical facilities to maintain at least one full-time maternity care coordinator for every 75 to 100 patients annually, with dedicated maternity care responsibilities.
• Require regular staffing reviews: Direct VA facilities to review maternity care coordinator staffing levels at least once every two years and document patient volume and staffing assignments.
• Demand corrective action: Require facilities that fall short of staffing requirements to correct course, submitting and implementing plans outlining necessary staffing adjustments, timelines, and resources.
• Increase congressional oversight: Require annual reports to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees detailing staffing levels, facility compliance, corrective action plans and coordinator capacity.
• Make information public: Require the VA to publish public summaries of its annual reports.

The legislation specifically applies to VA medical facilities with more than 100 patients and requires the VA Secretary to issue initial implementation guidance within 180 days of enactment.

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