Jefferson Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 17, 2024 — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at funding research on maternal care and mortality. The NIH IMPROVE Act, introduced by the senators, is the Senate Companion to a House bill and seeks to provide consistent funding for research in this critical area.

Senator Britt emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “This bipartisan legislation will support targeted funding for critical research to improve health outcomes for women throughout their pregnancy journey.” Meanwhile, Senator Butler highlighted the disparities in maternal care and the significance of sustaining research efforts, saying, “There are huge gaps in maternal care, especially across racial and socioeconomic lines, and the NIH IMPROVE Act will sustain much-needed research to better understand how we can protect mothers and end preventable maternal deaths.”

The NIH IMPROVE Act aims to authorize consistent funding for the IMPROVE Initiative over the next seven years. The IMPROVE Initiative, launched by the National Institutes of Health in 2019, focuses on reducing preventable causes of maternal deaths and enhancing healthcare for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

In a bid to address maternal care challenges in Alabama, where over a third of counties lack adequate maternity care facilities, Senator Britt has been a vocal advocate for maternal healthcare. She has championed various legislative initiatives, including questioning U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra on funding reductions that could impact maternal and child health services.

Senator Britt's efforts extend beyond maternal care, as she has been actively involved in legislation supporting access to breast cancer diagnosis, expanding telehealth services, and addressing the affordability of insulin. Her dedication to healthcare is further underscored by her recent work in securing funding to enhance medical equipment and rural health services in Alabama.

The introduction of the NIH IMPROVE Act by Senators Britt and Butler reflects a bipartisan commitment to advancing maternal care research and combating maternal mortality. Through sustained funding and research efforts, the senators aim to improve outcomes for women across the United States.