NASHVILLE, TENN. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Senate colleagues introduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act. This legislation would provide critical support to women during typically challenging phases of motherhood – prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood development – and bolster access to resources and assistance to help mothers and their children thrive.

This comes at an important moment. The number of U.S. births in 2023 was the lowest since 1979, according to provisional CDC data, and the total fertility rate in America hit an all-time low last year.

“Supporting mothers is critical to defending life at all stages. This legislation will promote access to quality health care and financial support for women. As a mother and a grandmother, I know the joy and challenges of raising children, and I am pleased to support the MOMS Act,” said Senator Blackburn.

“As a mom, I know firsthand that there is no greater blessing in life than our children and understand the types of challenges that women face during their pregnancy journeys and while raising their kids. I’m proud to support women throughout these seasons of motherhood. This legislation is further evidence that you can absolutely be pro-life, pro-woman, and pro-family at the same time. The MOMS Act advances a comprehensive culture of life, grows and strengthens families, and ensures moms have the opportunities and resources needed so they and their children can thrive and live their American Dreams,” said Senator Britt, the only Republican mom of school-aged children in the U.S. Senate.

• Establish Pregnancy.gov – a federal clearinghouse of resources available to expecting and postpartum moms, as well as those with young children.
• This clearinghouse would increase access to adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers, and other relevant public and private resources available to pregnant women within their zip code and surrounding areas.
• As part of Pregnancy.gov, HHS would be required to include and maintain a national list of federal funding opportunities available to non-profit and healthcare entities for pregnancy support.
• Improve access to pre- and post-natal resources.
• This legislation would establish a grant program for non-profit entities to support, encourage, and assist women in carrying their pregnancies to term; and to care for their babies after birth.
• It would also provide tools for pre-natal and post-natal telehealth appointments by instituting a grant program to purchase necessary medical equipment and technology in rural areas and other medically underserved areas.
• Require states to apply child support obligations to the time period during pregnancy, if so requested by the mother.

• The MOMS Act is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, the Family Policy Alliance, Democrats for Life of America, and Students for Life Action.

• Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have cosponsored the MOMS Act. 

The full text of the bill is here.