U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., is leading legislation to support mothers and pregnant women with resources, including a grant program for organizations that help expectant moms and babies.
Britt reintroduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed Act the week ahead of Mother’s Day to establish a website, Pregnancy.gov, to list public and private resources for expectant moms searchable by ZIP code.
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“At the heart of the MOMS Act is building a comprehensive culture of life to give moms, children, and families the support system they need to thrive and live their American Dream,” Britt said in a statement. “As a mom myself, I don’t have to wonder what other moms are facing – I’m living it.”
The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to operate Pregnancy.gov and include on the website a list of licensed child placement agencies. The website would also host a national list of federal funding options for nonprofits and healthcare institutions available for pregnancy support.
Inspiration
Britt touched on her experience as a parent, raising two children, as her inspiration for the legislation.
“They are why I’m here today,” Britt said on the Senate floor. “Their future and the future of the next generation is absolutely what I’m fighting for. As parents, our children are at the heart of every decision we make. We want them to have the greatest opportunity to succeed and to thrive.”
The MOMS Act would also establish a grant program for nonprofits that support women during and after pregnancy. The grants could not be given to organizations that perform or counsel “in favor of abortions.” The program would be paid for by unobligated funds from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The bill would also start a grant program for organizations to buy equipment to carry out telehealth appointments for prenatal and postnatal care in rural and underserved areas.
The third part of the legislation allows states to apply child support payments for the period during pregnancy.
“I am committed to growing and strengthening families and ensuring parents have the opportunities and resources needed so that they and their children can thrive and live their American Dream,” Britt said.
Britt also introduced the legislation last year, but it did not advance in a Democratic-controlled Senate. Some Senate Democrats argued that the proposed website would track pregnant women and coerce them to carry their pregnancies to term no matter the circumstances.
However, Britt’s office refuted those claims, citing fact-check stories, such as USA Today Fact Check which rated the claims that the website would create a federal database of pregnant women as false. The bill’s proposed website would not require women to put in their contact information.
Alabama has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the country. In 2024, the rate was 38.6 per 100,000 births, according to the March of Dimes.
The legislation has the support of 21 Senate Republicans cosponsoring it.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Alex Angle and originally published by Alabama Daily News.
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