August 20th, 2026Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation to Combat Maternal Health Crisis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), alongside U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) in reintroducing the Mamas First Act, legislation that would address the maternal mortality crisis by expanding Medicaid coverage to include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care provided by doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support providers. These services have been proven to reduce C-sections, decrease maternal anxiety, and improve communication between pregnant women and their health care providers. "By expanding access to trusted providers like doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation can help make sure mothers get the care they need. That’s especially important in New Mexico, where more than half of all births are covered by Medicaid,” said Heinrich. “The Mamas First Act will particularly help mothers in rural and Tribal communities to access quality care before, during, and after childbirth – because every mother deserves the support she needs to have a healthy pregnancy and a safe delivery.” “Instead of slashing healthcare for millions of Americans like Republicans in Congress are hellbent on doing, we should be expanding access to care to protect every momma and baby,” said Warren. “It’s unthinkable that the richest country in the world would also have one of the highest maternal mortality rates. The Mamas First Act will help fix this crisis by improving access to high-quality care and rooting out the deep disparities and systemic racism in our health care system.” “The Mamas First Act meets a crisis that is costing mothers their lives—especially Black and Indigenous women who walk into delivery rooms carrying risks no family should bear,” said Booker. “By ensuring Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this bill delivers the trusted care that keeps mothers safe and babies alive. Congress must act now.” Specifically, the Mamas First Act would: Amend the Social Security Act to allow doulas, midwives, Tribal midwives, and lactation support providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid. Improve access to care before, during and after delivery for underserved and under-resourced communities. Connect mothers and babies to culturally competent and patient-centered care to facilitate better health outcomes. In addition to Heinrich, Warren, and Booker, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). In addition to Moore, Dingell, Adams, Underwood, and Pressley, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Homes Norton (D-D.C), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Al Green (D-Texas), Adelita Grijalva (D- Ariz.), and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). It is endorsed by Ujima, The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community, the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice, the National Health Law Program, Health Connect One, BMMA Inc. (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Incorporated), Futures Without Violence, Every Mother Counts, the American Association of Birth Centers, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, the National Partnership for Women and Families, Birth Center Equity, Families USA, and the What to Expect Project. “The Mamas First act will help address our country’s devastating maternal health crisis, which is causing vast, disproportionate harm to Black and Indigenous mothers and newborns, by ensuring that Medicaid reimburses doulas, midwives, and other birthing care workers for vitally important care they provide,” said Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence. “We thank Senator Warren and Representative Moore for championing this legislation, which will ensure these critical providers can continue providing quality care to the millions of people who rely on Medicaid for coverage. We urge leaders in both the House and the Senate to prioritize its passage.” “The Mamas First Act recognizes a simple but important truth: better support leads to better outcomes for mothers and babies,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director of Families USA. “By expanding access to trusted community-based providers, including doulas, midwives, tribal midwives, and lactation support professionals, this legislation will help ensure that more families receive the high-quality, culturally congruent care they deserve during a time of immense change, vulnerability and excitement. Families USA is proud to endorse it.” To read a one pager on the bill, click here. To read the full text of the bill, click here. ###