Bill · H.R. 8869· House(119-HR-8869)
Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 5/15/2026
- Last activity
- 5/15/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Bonnie Watson Coleman
- Cosponsors
- - 7 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Traumatic Births Research Act of 2026 seeks to amend the Public Health Service Act. It authorizes research into how traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder affect mothers, infants, and families. The bill directs the Secretary to conduct this research or award grants to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations. Additionally, it establishes a pilot program to research how midwife-driven care models impact traumatic birth experiences and maternal mental health compared to medical care models. The Secretary is also required to submit interim and final reports to Congress regarding this research and the pilot project.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would women be better off under this?+7
The bill specifically targets research into maternal mental health, traumatic births, and the impacts on mothers and their families.
Does this put more money into medical research?+7
The bill authorizes $1,000,000 annually for research on traumatic births and PTSD, plus additional sums for a midwife-driven care pilot program.
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+5
The bill explicitly allows for research awards to be made to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Research on maternal and family health: The bill authorizes research on how traumatic birth experiences and post-traumatic stress disorder impact short- and long-term maternal mental health, as well as the impacts on mothers, infants, and families (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Improved understanding of health risks: The research will look into the relationship between severe maternal morbidity and traumatic birth experiences (Section 2(a)(2)(A)).
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Data accuracy for specific groups: The Secretary is required to disaggregate research findings by race and ethnicity (Section 2(a)(2)(B)).
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Comparison of care models: A pilot program will research the extent and mechanisms through which midwife-driven care models impact traumatic birth experiences and maternal mental health outcomes relative to medical care models (Section 3(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+7Good For Native Americans+5Good For African Americans+4Good For Asian Americans+4Good For Hispanic Americans+4Good For Children+3
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+7Improves Mental Health Access+5Improves Healthcare Access+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/15/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 6 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Timothy KennedyDemocrat · New York
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York