Kira Johnson Act

(a) In general. The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall award grants to eligible entities to establish or expand programs to advance maternal health equity.

(b) Timing. Following the 1-year period described in subsection (d), the Secretary shall commence awarding the grants authorized by subsection (a).

(c) Eligible entities. To be eligible to seek a grant under this section, an entity shall be a community-based organization offering programs and resources aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal health outcomes for demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.

(d) Outreach and technical assistance period. During the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—

(1) conduct outreach to encourage eligible entities to apply for grants under this section; and

(2) provide technical assistance to eligible entities on best practices for applying for grants under this section.

(e) Special consideration

(1) Outreach. In conducting outreach under subsection (d), the Secretary shall give special consideration to eligible entities that—

(A) are based in, and provide support for, communities with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes, to the extent such data are available;

(B) are led by individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes; and

(C) offer programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.

(2) Awards. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to eligible entities that—

(A) are described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1);

(B) offer programs and resources designed in consultation with and intended for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;

(C) offer programs and resources in the communities in which the respective eligible entities are located that—

(i) promote maternal mental health and maternal substance use disorder treatments and supports that are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal mental and behavioral health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;

(ii) address social determinants of maternal health;

(iii) promote evidence-based health literacy and pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting education;

(iv) provide support from perinatal health workers;

(v) provide culturally and linguistically congruent training to perinatal health workers;

(vi) conduct or support research on maternal health issues disproportionately impacting individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes;

(vii) offer group prenatal care or group postpartum care;

(viii) coordinate mutual aid efforts during infant formula shortages, including community milk depots, donor human milk banks and exchanges, and forums for community outreach and education;

(ix) provide support to individuals or family members of individuals who suffered a pregnancy loss, pregnancy-associated death, or pregnancy-related death; or

(x) operate midwifery practices that provide culturally and linguistically congruent maternal health care and support, including for the purposes of—

(I) supporting additional education, training, and certification programs, including support for distance learning;

(II) providing financial support to current and future midwives to address education costs, debts, and other needs;

(III) clinical site investments;

(IV) supporting preceptor development trainings;

(V) expanding the midwifery practice; or

(VI) related needs identified by the midwifery practice and described in the practice’s application; and

(D) have developed other programs and resources that address community-specific needs for pregnant and postpartum individuals and are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.

(f) Technical assistance. The Secretary shall provide to grant recipients under this section technical assistance on—

(1) capacity building to establish or expand programs to advance maternal health equity;

(2) best practices in data collection, measurement, evaluation, and reporting; and

(3) planning for sustaining programs to advance maternal health equity after the period of the grant.

(g) Evaluation. Not later than the end of fiscal year 2031, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress an evaluation of the grant program under this section that—

(1) assesses the effectiveness of outreach efforts during the application process in diversifying the pool of grant recipients;

(2) makes recommendations for future outreach efforts to diversify the pool of grant recipients for Department of Health and Human Services grant programs and funding opportunities related to maternal health;

(3) assesses the effectiveness of programs funded by grants under this section in improving maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes, to the extent practicable; and

(4) makes recommendations for future Department of Health and Human Services grant programs and funding opportunities that deliver funding to community-based organizations that provide programs and resources that are aligned with evidence-based practices for improving maternal health outcomes for individuals from demographic groups with elevated rates of maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, maternal health disparities, or other adverse perinatal or childbirth outcomes.

(h) Authorization of appropriations. To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.