Congress·In Committee·H.R. 2040

Infant Mortality: New Grants for High-Risk Communities

NEWBORN Act

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

This bill, called the NEWBORN Act, would set up a grant program to help babies survive and thrive in areas where infant death rates are the highest. It focuses on the 50 counties or groups of counties in the U.S. that have struggled the most with this issue over the last three years.
Local health departments could use the money to create specific plans for their communities. This includes teaching parents about safe sleep and feeding, providing dental care for moms, and offering programs to help parents quit smoking or get treatment for drug and alcohol use.
The program targets the biggest causes of infant death, such as birth defects, babies being born too early or too small, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It also aims to help mothers who face health complications during pregnancy or struggle with postpartum depression.
The bill authorizes $10 million in spending every year from 2025 through 2029. To make sure the money is being used well, health departments must send a report to the government every year showing their results and statistics.