SC Alaska News

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Ben Ray Luján have reintroduced the Midwives for Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) Act, a bipartisan effort aimed at addressing the maternal and infant mortality crisis in the United States. The legislation seeks to increase funding for midwifery education to expand the number of trained midwives across the country.

Senator Murkowski emphasized the importance of quality maternal care, particularly in rural areas such as Alaska, where workforce shortages and geographical challenges affect expecting mothers. "I’m proud to again join the reintroduction of the Midwives for MOMS Act," she stated, highlighting its potential to improve maternal health by expanding midwifery training opportunities.

Senator Luján noted that midwives have been integral to New Mexico's healthcare system for decades. He expressed pride in partnering with Senator Murkowski on this initiative, which aims to enhance maternity care workforce diversity and address disparities impacting communities nationwide.

The MOMS Act proposes $15 million in grants for educating midwives from accredited programs eligible for national certification exams and $20 million for nurse-midwife education from accredited programs. It prioritizes programs focusing on increasing racial and ethnic minority representation within midwifery education.

Supporters of the bill include the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM), National Association of Certified Professional Midwives (NACPM), and American Association of Birth Centers (AABC). According to CDC data, maternal and infant mortality rates are disproportionately higher among Black, Native American, and Hispanic communities compared to white counterparts. Integrating midwifery into maternal healthcare has been linked with healthier birth outcomes.

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley, Amy Klobuchar, and Mark Kelly.