U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have reintroduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at providing consistent funding for maternal care and mortality research. The legislation is the Senate companion to a House bill led by Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) began the Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative in 2019. This program supports research focused on reducing preventable maternal deaths and improving health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy. However, the initiative currently lacks a dedicated funding source.
The proposed NIH IMPROVE Act would authorize $73.4 million annually over seven years to fund this program. The act also seeks to address disparities in maternal mortality and severe morbidity by supporting targeted research efforts in underserved areas.
“I’m proud to fight for moms and women across Alabama and America. This bipartisan legislation will support targeted funding for critical research to improve health outcomes for women throughout their pregnancy journey,” said Senator Britt. “I’m committed to ensuring the NIH remains the gold-standard of research and provides solutions to improve health outcomes for women before, during, and after pregnancy.”
Senator Booker added, “Studies show that 80% of maternal deaths are preventable, and the NIH IMPROVE Act is a critical step forward in addressing our nation’s ongoing maternal health crisis. This bipartisan legislation expands research and strengthens data collection so we can better understand how to save lives and close long-standing disparities in care.”
Representative Underwood highlighted past investments: “Six years ago, we worked with the National Institutes of Health to start the IMPROVE Initiative to make smart investments in comprehensive research and evidence-based solutions that save moms’ lives and advance birth equity. Since 2019, IMPROVE has invested more than $200 million in life-saving research that will help end our nation’s maternal health crisis. Our bipartisan NIH IMPROVE Act will advance maternal health research by permanently authorizing funding for IMPROVE, making sure that NIH can continue this critical work.”
The March of Dimes organization recently released its 2025 report card showing that the United States continues to rank poorly among developed countries when it comes to childbirth safety; preterm birth rates received a D+ grade nationally for four consecutive years.
In Alabama specifically, more than one-third of counties lack access to birthing facilities or maternity care providers—classified as “maternity care deserts.” In late 2023, three hospitals closed their labor and delivery departments in Alabama, leaving Shelby and Monroe counties without such services. The state also reports one of the highest maternal mortality rates nationwide at 59.7 deaths per 100,000 births.
Senator Britt has made healthcare—including maternal care—a legislative priority. Earlier this year she questioned NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya regarding funding needs during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.
She noted ongoing concerns: “[F]ar too many women in this country are dying from pregnancy-related causes. You look at Alabama, we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation. It disproportionately affects black women, Native American women, women in rural areas … It’s 2025. These numbers should be moving in the opposite direction. I am really proud to have co-sponsored the NIH IMPROVE Act.”
Senator Britt also participated in reintroducing additional bills this year aimed at improving access to obstetric care in rural communities as well as eliminating out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer diagnostic tests.
March of Dimes along with Women’s First Research Coalition endorse this new legislation.
