Midwives for MOMS Act of 2025
SB 1599, the Midwives for MOMS Act of 2025, would create two federal grant programs within the Public Health Service Act to expand midwifery education and training. One program would support accredited midwifery schools and programs at institutions of higher education through student aid, program start-up or expansion funds, and support for recruiting and preparing qualified preceptors. The second would provide similar support for accredited nurse-midwifery programs through schools of nursing, including student support, program expansion, and clinical preceptor development.
The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give special consideration to applicants that prioritize students who intend to practice in federally designated health professional shortage areas and that demonstrate a commitment to increasing racial and ethnic minority representation in midwifery education. It also excludes use of the midwifery-school grant program for programs housed within schools of nursing, while separately authorizing grants for nurse-midwifery programs in schools of nursing. The bill authorizes $15 million for midwifery schools and programs and $20 million for nurse-midwifery programs for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with specified allocations among student support, program expansion, and preceptor development.
If enacted, the bill would amend Title VII and Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act and add new sections specifically focused on midwifery workforce development. It would not directly regulate clinical practice standards or insurance coverage, but it would expand federal support for education pipelines that could increase the supply of midwives and certified nurse-midwives, especially in underserved areas. The bill also updates statutory definitions to expressly include midwifery schools or programs as eligible educational entities under federal health professions training law.
The available context suggests generally positive, workforce-oriented support for the bill, as reflected by bipartisan cosponsorship from Senators Luján, Murkowski, Merkley, Klobuchar, and Kelly. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition is documented here. The bill’s emphasis on shortage areas, maternal outcomes, and diversity in training indicates a public health and access-to-care framing rather than a partisan policy fight.
The main points of potential contention are structural rather than ideological: the bill distinguishes between midwifery programs outside schools of nursing and nurse-midwifery programs within nursing schools, which may raise questions about how funds are distributed across educational pathways. Another possible issue is whether the authorization levels are sufficient to address workforce shortages, and whether prioritizing shortage-area placement and minority representation should be weighted more heavily in grant awards. No specific objections are recorded in the provided materials.
SB 1599 would amend the Public Health Service Act to create new federal grant authorities for midwifery and nurse-midwifery education, adding sections 760A and 812 and revising related definitions in section 799B. It would authorize $35 million total over fiscal years 2025 through 2029, split between institutions of higher education and schools of nursing, and would direct HHS to prioritize training pipelines for shortage areas and underrepresented groups. The bill would affect higher education institutions, nursing schools, accredited midwifery programs, students, preceptors, and communities with maternity care shortages.
The bill appears to have a broadly supportive and pragmatic public health orientation, with bipartisan sponsorship suggesting cross-party interest in improving maternal health and workforce capacity. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes provided, the record does not show formal debate, amendments, or opposition. The overall tone of the bill is solution-focused, emphasizing access to care, workforce development, and improved maternity outcomes.
No specific contention is documented in the provided materials, but the bill could prompt discussion over how to structure federal support between standalone midwifery programs and nurse-midwifery programs in schools of nursing. Another likely issue is the bill’s grant-priority criteria, especially the emphasis on health professional shortage areas and increasing racial and ethnic minority representation, which some may view as essential equity measures and others may question as selection preferences. Funding level and program design could also be debated if the bill advances further.