Plain Language Summary
# MOMS Act Summary The **MOMS Act** (More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act) is a bill introduced in the House that would make three main changes to support pregnant women and new mothers. First, it would allow states to collect child support payments starting during pregnancy (rather than after birth), if the mother requests it. Second, it would provide federal grants to nonprofits that offer services to pregnant women and mothers with young children—such as healthcare, childcare information, and housing assistance—but specifically excludes abortion-related services.
Third, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create a website listing pregnancy resources that don't include information about abortions. The bill primarily affects pregnant women, mothers with young children, and fathers who owe child support. Nonprofits that support pregnant women and new mothers could benefit from the new federal grant funding. As of now, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.
CRS Official Summary
More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act or the MOMS ActThis bill establishes requirements to enable the collection of certain child support during pregnancy, establishes grants for supportive services for women that promote alternatives to abortions, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a website with pregnancy resources other than those about abortions.Specifically, the bill requires states to apply child support obligations to the time period during pregnancy under the Child Support Enforcement program. (The program enables states to receive federal matching funds for expenses related to child support enforcement activities and related services.) Such child support applies at the request of the mother and may be applied retroactively. Also, HHS must award grants to nonprofits to provide pregnant and postpartum women, and women parenting young children, with services or information on topics including health care (excluding abortions), child care, and employment assistance. It also requires HHS to provide grants to health care providers in rural or medically underserved areas, as well as tribal areas, to purchase equipment enabling telehealth visits for prenatal and postnatal care (e.g., monitoring devices).Additionally, the bill requires HHS to establish a public website to inform pregnant and postpartum women, and women parenting young children, of nearby services and resources on topics including health care, material or legal support, and alternatives to abortion. States must, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds, provide lists of nonprofit child placement agencies for potential inclusion on the site.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.