[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6096 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6096
To amend title V of the Social Security Act to include as a special
project of regional and national significance the purchase,
acquisition, and distribution to mothers of newborn infants newborn
supply kits, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2025
Ms. Letlow (for herself, Ms. Schrier, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, and Ms.
Barragan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
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A BILL
To amend title V of the Social Security Act to include as a special
project of regional and national significance the purchase,
acquisition, and distribution to mothers of newborn infants newborn
supply kits, 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 ``Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit
Act'' or the ``NEST Act''.
SEC. 2. NEWBORN SUPPLY KITS.
(a) In General.--Section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 701(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and for evidence-based programs'' and
inserting ``for evidence-based programs''; and
(2) by inserting before ``; and'' at the end the following:
``, and for the purchase, acquisition, and distribution of
newborn supply kits distributed in accordance with subsection
(d)''.
(b) Newborn Supply Kit Defined.--Section 501(b) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 701(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(5) The term `newborn supply kit' means a kit composed of
essential goods to help mothers recover from childbirth and
care for newborn infants that includes the following items:
``(A) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and
thermometers for newborn infants.
``(B) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs,
breastfeeding supplies, information on the National
Maternal Mental Health Hotline established under
section 399V-7 of the Public Health Service Act,
information on the National Women's Health and
Breastfeeding Helpline and additional educational
material on breastfeeding, information about Federal
programs providing support to postpartum women and
children, such as the special supplemental nutrition
program for women, infants, and children under section
17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, and evidence-
based educational material on the use of low-dose
aspirin to address hypertension, preeclampsia, and
preterm birth.
``(C) A blood pressure monitor.
``(D) Other items necessary to support infant and
postpartum health (as determined by the Secretary).''.
(c) Set-aside.--Section 501(c) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 701(c)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
``(5) For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of the funds made
available under subsection (a) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may
reserve not more than $5,000,000 for the purpose of enabling the
Secretary to provide for special projects of regional and national
significance for the purchase, acquisition, and distribution of newborn
supply kits in accordance with subsection (d).''.
(d) Administration.--Section 501 of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 701) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d)(1) In purchasing or acquiring newborn supply kits using funds
made available under subsection (c)(5), the Secretary shall make grants
or enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit entities that have
a multi-state presence to procure such newborn supply kits for new
mothers, such as community-based organizations, Federally qualified
health centers (as defined in section 1861(aa)), Tribal organizations
(as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)), and birthing hospitals.
``(2) In distributing newborn supply kits purchased or acquired
using funds made available under subsection (c)(5), the entity that
distributes such kits shall, as a condition on the receipt of such
funds--
``(A) partner with a local organizations that serve the
locations where such newborn supply kits are to be distributed;
``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the
geographical diversity of the recipients of such newborn supply
kits;
``(C) give priority to geographic areas with the greatest
need, such as maternity care deserts, rural communities, and
communities with the highest maternal mortality rates (such as
the Delta region); and
``(D) give priority to mothers or newborn infants whose
family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line
(as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block
Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a family of the size
involved.''.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the first grant or cooperative agreement is awarded
pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a), the Secretary
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report
on the progress of the grants or cooperative agreements so
awarded, including--
(A) the number of mothers served under the grants
or cooperative agreements during the period covered by
the report (disaggregated by race, family income level,
and number of individuals in the household);
(B) the regions in the United States in which
newborn supply kits are being distributed through such
grants or cooperative agreements;
(C) feedback from mothers who have received newborn
supply kits through such grants or cooperative
agreements; and
(D) such other information, as determined necessary
by the Secretary.
(2) Final report.--Not later than 180 days after the date
on which the last grant or cooperative agreement is awarded
pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a) for fiscal
year 2030, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report on the results of the grants or
cooperative agreements awarded pursuant to the amendment made
by subsection (a) with respect to maternal and infant health
outcomes.
(3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
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