4 versions

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with ENGROSSED IN HOUSE (Jul 20, 2026)

Technical corrections only. The changes between v3 and v4 reflect the bill's procedural progression from being engrossed in the House to being referred in the Senate, including updated legislative status and the specific name of the House Clerk. No substantive policy changes were made to the text of the bill.

H.R. 6238119th CongressIntroduced Nov 20, 2025

NIH IMPROVE Act

Passed HouseHealthSubstantive

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Committees: Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
Last action: Jul 21, 2026

Bottom line

This bill codifies and funds a National Institutes of Health initiative focused on improving maternal health outcomes and reducing related health disparities.

What it actually does

This bill formally establishes the "Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone Initiative" (IMPROVE Initiative) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It mandates the NIH Director to conduct research aimed at reducing preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, addressing health disparities, and improving health for pregnant and postpartum women. The bill authorizes $63,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out these activities.

Proponents argue

Supporters argue this bill addresses a critical public health crisis by providing dedicated funding and a clear statutory mandate for research into maternal mortality and morbidity, especially for disproportionately affected populations. They contend that a focused initiative ensures these issues receive the necessary attention and resources for impactful research and intervention development.

Opponents contend

Critics might argue that while the goal of improving maternal health is laudable, the authorized funding might be insufficient to address the scale of the problem, or that existing NIH programs could address these issues without creating a new, specifically named initiative, potentially leading to bureaucratic overlap rather than streamlined efforts.

The bill is very short and easy to read, allowing ample time for comprehensive evaluation by any interested reader.

Section 2, amending Part B of title IV of the Public Health Service Act

Establishment and Objectives of the NIH IMPROVE Initiative

prominently featuredstraightforward

This section formally establishes the "Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone Initiative" (IMPROVE Initiative) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It mandates the NIH Director to continue this program with specific objectives: advancing research to reduce preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, reducing health disparities in maternal outcomes, and improving health for pregnant and postpartum women. The initiative is also tasked with using an integrated approach to understand factors affecting maternal health and targeting disparities through community-based interventions and identifying risk factors.

GroupImpactMechanismScale

GroupPregnant and postpartum womenImpactImproved health outcomes, reduced mortality and morbidity, reduced health disparities.MechanismResearch, community-based interventions, identification of risk factors and biological mechanisms.ScaleNational, focusing on specific regions and disproportionately affected women.

GroupResearchers and medical institutionsImpactFunding opportunities for maternal health research.MechanismGrants, contracts, cooperative agreements.ScaleSignificant, with authorized appropriations of $63.4 million annually.

Supporters argue

Supporters argue this provision provides a critical, dedicated framework and funding stream for addressing the rising rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the U.S., especially for underserved communities. They contend that a focused initiative ensures these issues receive the necessary attention and resources for impactful research and intervention development.

Critics contend

No specific opposition is typically raised against the general goal of improving maternal health. However, some might argue that creating a new named initiative could lead to administrative overhead or that existing NIH institutes could integrate this research without a separate program, potentially fragmenting research efforts.

Tradeoffs

The tension lies between creating a highly focused, dedicated initiative to ensure specific attention to maternal health versus integrating such research within broader existing NIH structures to avoid potential siloing or duplication of efforts.

Section 2, adding subsection (d) to Section 409K of the Public Health Service Act

Authorization of Appropriations for the IMPROVE Initiative

mentioned in summarystraightforward

This provision authorizes the appropriation of $63,400,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the IMPROVE Initiative. This funding is crucial for enabling the National Institutes of Health to award grants, enter into contracts, and engage in other agreements necessary to conduct the research and implement the interventions outlined in the initiative's objectives.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.