[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4916 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4916
To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal
mortality or severe maternal morbidity as a result of being a victim of
intimate partner violence, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 3, 2021
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin (for herself, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Adams, and Ms.
Kuster) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To study the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal
mortality or severe maternal morbidity as a result of being a victim of
intimate partner violence, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Moms From Domestic Violence
Act''.
SEC. 2. STUDY BY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
(a) Study.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the Health
Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, and the Administration for Children and
Families, and in consultation with the Attorney General of the United
States, the Director of the Indian Health Service, and stakeholders
(including community-based organizations, culturally specific
organizations, and Tribal public health authorities), shall conduct a
study on the extent to which individuals are more at risk of maternal
mortality or severe maternal morbidity as a result of being a victim of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human
trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, or forced marriage.
(b) Reports.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall complete the study under subsection (a)
and submit a report to the Congress on the results of such study. Such
report shall include--
(1) an analysis of the extent to which domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking,
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, and forced marriage
contribute to, or result in, maternal mortality;
(2) an analysis of the impact of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex
trafficking, child sexual abuse, and forced marriage on access
to health care (including mental health care) and substance use
disorder treatment and recovery support;
(3) a breakdown (including by race and ethnicity) of
categories of individuals who are disproportionately victims of
domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking,
human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, or
forced marriage that contributes to, or results in, pregnancy-
related death;
(4) an analysis of the impact on health, mental health, and
substance use resulting from domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex
trafficking, child sexual abuse, and forced marriage among
Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, and American Indians during
the prenatal and postpartum period;
(5) an assessment of the factors that increase or decrease
risks for maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity among
victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual
abuse, or forced marriage;
(6) an assessment of increased risk of maternal mortality
or severe maternal morbidity stemming from suicide, substance
use disorders, or drug overdose due to domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking,
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, or forced marriage;
(7) recommendations for legislative or policy changes--
(A) to reduce maternal mortality rates; and
(B) to address health inequities that contribute to
disparities in such rates and deaths;
(8) best practices to reduce maternal mortality and severe
maternal morbidity among victims of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex
trafficking, child sexual abuse, and forced marriage,
including--
(A) reducing reproductive coercion, mental health
conditions, and substance use coercion; and
(B) routinely assessing pregnant people for
domestic violence and other forms of reproductive
violence; and
(9) any other information on maternal mortality or severe
maternal morbidity the Secretary determines appropriate to
include in the report.
SEC. 3. STUDY BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into an
arrangement with the National Academy of Medicine (or, if the Academy
declines to enter into such arrangement, another appropriate entity) to
study--
(1) the impact of domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking,
child sexual abuse, and forced marriage on an individual's
health; relative to
(2) maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity.
(b) Topics.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine--
(A) whether domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex
trafficking, child sexual abuse, or forced marriage, or
generational intimate partner violence, trauma, and
psychiatric disorders, increase the risk of suicide,
substance use, and drug overdose among pregnant and
postpartum persons; and
(B) the intersection of domestic violence, dating
violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking,
sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, and forced
marriage as a social determinant of health; and
(2) give particular focus to impacts among African
American, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, and
LGBTQ birthing persons.
SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Health Resources and Services Administration, and in collaboration
with the Administration for Children and Families, the Indian Health
Service, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, shall award grants to eligible entities for developing
and implementing innovative approaches to improve maternal and child
health outcomes of victims of domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child
sexual abuse, or forced marriage.
(b) Eligible Entity.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall be--
(1) a State, local, or federally recognized Tribal
government;
(2) a nonprofit organization or community-based
organization that provides prevention or intervention services
related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault,
stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child sexual
abuse, or forced marriage;
(3) a tribal organization or Urban Indian organization (as
such terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603));
(4) an entity, the principal purpose of which is to provide
health care, such as a hospital, clinic, health department,
freestanding birthing center, perinatal health worker, or
maternity care provider;
(5) an institution of higher education; or
(6) a comprehensive substance use disorder parenting
program.
(c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
of Health and Human Services shall give priority to applicants
proposing to address--
(1) mental health and substance use disorders among
pregnant persons; or
(2) pregnant and postpartum persons experiencing intimate
partner violence.
(d) Freestanding Birth Center Defined.--In this section, the term
``freestanding birth center'' has the meaning given that term in
section 1905(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(1)).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2022 through 2024.
SEC. 5. GUIDANCE.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall issue and disseminate guidance to States, Tribes,
Territories, maternity care providers, and managed care entities on--
(1) providing universal education on healthy relationships
and intimate partner violence;
(2) developing protocols on--
(A) routine assessment of intimate partner
violence; and
(B) health promotion and strategies for trauma-
informed care plans; and
(3) creating sustainable partnerships with community-based
organizations that address domestic violence, dating violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, sex trafficking,
child sexual abuse, or forced marriage.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term ``maternal mortality''--
(A) means death that--
(i) occurs during, or within the 1-year
period after, pregnancy; and
(ii) is attributed to or aggravated by
pregnancy-related or childbirth complications;
and
(B) includes a suicide, drug overdose death,
homicide (including a domestic violence-related
homicide), or other death resulting from a mental
health or substance use disorder attributed to or
aggravated by pregnancy-related or childbirth
complications.
(2) The term ``maternity care provider'' means a health
care provider who--
(A) is a physician, physician assistant, nurse,
midwife who meets at a minimum the international
definition of the midwife and global standards for
midwifery education as established by the International
Confederation of Midwives, nurse practitioner, or
clinical nurse specialist; and
(B) has a focus on maternal or perinatal health.
(3) The term ``perinatal health worker'' means a worker
who--
(A) is a doula, community health worker, peer
supporter, breastfeeding and lactation educator or
counselor, nutritionist or dietitian, childbirth
educator, social worker, home visitor, language
interpreter, or navigator; and
(B) provides assistance with perinatal health.
(4) The term ``postpartum'' refers to the 12-month period
following childbirth.
(5) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health
and Human Services.
(6) The term ``severe maternal morbidity'' means a health
condition, including a mental health condition or substance use
disorder, that--
(A) is attributed to or aggravated by pregnancy or
childbirth; and
(B) results in significant short-term or long-term
consequences to the health of the individual who was
pregnant.
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