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Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act
3/13/2024, 3:13 PM
Summary of Bill S 1601
The bill includes provisions to fund research on the effects of climate change on maternal and infant health, as well as to develop strategies to mitigate these effects. It also aims to improve access to healthcare services for pregnant women and infants in communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase education and awareness about the risks of climate change on maternal and infant health, and to promote sustainable practices that can help reduce these risks. It also calls for the development of guidelines for healthcare providers to better address the needs of pregnant women and infants in the face of climate change. Overall, the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act seeks to address a critical issue facing vulnerable populations in the United States, and to ensure that pregnant women and infants are adequately protected from the health impacts of climate change.
Congressional Summary of S 1601
Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act
This bill establishes requirements and grants that address risks associated with climate change, particularly for vulnerable individuals (i.e., members of racial and ethnic minority groups, pregnant or postpartum individuals, and children younger than age three).
Specifically, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must establish a program to award grants to partnerships of community-based organizations and other entities to identify and address climate-change-related risks to these individuals at a county level.
HHS must also establish a program to award grants to health professional schools for developing—and integrating into their curriculums—education and training on identifying risks associated with climate change for vulnerable individuals.
In addition, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) must establish the Consortium on Birth and Climate Change Research. The consortium must coordinate research on such risks conducted and supported by various NIH institutes and offices.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must also develop a strategy to designate areas that have a high risk of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes among vulnerable individuals due to risks associated with climate change.
