New moms would get longer WIC benefits and improved maternal care, especially for underserved communities.
This bill, called the Momnibus Act, would extend WIC food assistance for new mothers from 6 months to 24 months after birth. It would also set aside money for programs to improve maternal health, mental health, and support for pregnant and postpartum individuals, with a focus on reducing health differences for racial and ethnic minority groups and other underserved populations. Additionally, it would address care for incarcerated pregnant individuals and risks from climate change.
Today, WIC benefits for new mothers who are not breastfeeding typically end after six months. This bill would extend those benefits to 24 months. Currently, there isn't a federal mandate or dedicated funding for many of the programs this bill proposes, such as widespread bias training in maternity care or specific grants to address climate change risks for pregnant individuals. This bill would create new grant programs, task forces, and reporting requirements to specifically target maternal health disparities, mental health, workforce development, and environmental factors.
HR 7973 · 119th Congress · March 18, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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