Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Combat the Maternal Mental Health Crisis

Mental health conditions - including substance use disorders - are theleading cause of preventable maternal death in the United States

WASHINIGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the bipartisan, bicameral Moms Matter Act, commonsense legislation to increase investments in maternal mental health programs and better support moms and pregnant women.

Mental health conditions - including substance use disorders - are the leading cause of preventable maternal death during pregnancy or in the first year postpartum. However, despite the high need for care, over 80% of pregnant and recently postpartum women live in maternal mental health resource shortage areas.

The Moms Matter Act will help combat this crisis by increasing investments in local maternal healthcare programs and expanding access to these programs.

Specifically, the legislation will:

• Establish a Maternal Mental Health Equity Grant Program to invest in local initiatives supporting people with mental health conditions or substance use disorders during or after pregnancy; and
• Provide funding for programs to grow and diversify the maternal mental and behavioral healthcare workforce to expand access to high-quality maternal mental healthcare and substance use disorder services.

The Moms Matter Act is led by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.). Alongside Heinrich, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Companion legislation is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

The legislation is endorsed by over 200 maternal health organizations, including Moms Rising, March of Dimes, Reproductive Freedom for All, and the National Partnership for Women and Families.

The full text of the bill is here.

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