Rep. Underwood. U.S. House bill targets maternal and infant health risks from climate change

The new bill, authored by U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood in the U.S. House, aims to protect vulnerable mothers and infants from health risks linked to climate change, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.8397 was introduced on April 21, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill establishes the “Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act,” aimed at safeguarding the health of vulnerable mothers and infants from climate change risks. It mandates the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a grant program within 180 days of enactment to support initiatives addressing climate-related health risks, particularly in communities facing high vulnerability. Grants will target areas experiencing significant maternal and infant health disparities, and funds may be used for training health professionals, improving health infrastructure, and providing resources to affected individuals. The bill also allocates $100 million for the program from fiscal years 2027 through 2030. Additionally, a consortium for research on the climate’s impact on maternal health will be established, and a strategy to identify high-risk zones will be developed, with a report due 18 months post-enactment.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Lauren Underwood (Democrat-IL-14th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Alma S. Adams (Democrat-IL-12th District), Rep. Joyce Beatty (Democrat-IL-3rd District), and Rep. Wesley Bell (Democrat-IL-1st District), along with 39 other sponsors.

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Underwood has introduced another 27 bills.

A related bill, S.4356, was also introduced in the Senate on April 21, 2026. Congressional records list it as a related bill to H.R.8397.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Lauren Underwood is a Representative from Illinois, elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth and to the three succeeding Congresses starting January 3, 2019. She holds a B.S.N. from the University of Michigan, awarded in 2008, and an M.S.N./M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins University, obtained in 2009.