Republicans controlling the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives means we have a rare opportunity in front of us. For years before we swept to victory in November — and for the first two years of my Senate term — we were stuck.
Despite our attempts to pass legislation and actually address the issues Americans care about, Democrat leadership refused to put our bills on the floor. But now, with the GOP holding majorities in both chambers of Congress and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, we can finally get things done for the American people.
It’s time to turn our attention to maternal health, and it’s been a long time coming for the state of Alabama. Over a third of our 67 counties are classified as maternity care deserts, meaning they lack access to birthing facilities or maternity care providers. In 2023 alone, three of our state’s hospitals announced they would close their labor and delivery departments.
When communities go without essential health services, tragic consequences follow: Alabama has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, at 38.6 deaths per 100,000 births.
As a mom, I know firsthand that there is no greater blessing in life than our children. I also know that there are plenty of challenges that mothers experience during their pregnancy journeys. That’s why I have reintroduced the More Opportunities for Moms to Succeed (MOMS) Act.
Our bill would provide critical support to women during the most challenging phases of motherhood: prenatal, postpartum, and early childhood development. We’d increase access to resources and assistance to help mothers and their children thrive, including providing online resources for women at Pregnancy.gov and strengthening access to pregnancy resource centers and adoption agencies. Additional resources included range from mental health care services and nutrition assistance to child care and housing support.
We would also connect pregnancy-support nonprofits and health care entities with federal funding opportunities so they can effectively serve women who need their help. We aren’t blind to the reality that many mothers live in rural areas far from maternity care centers, which is why our bill includes tools for pre- and post-natal telehealth appointments — it would institute a grant program to purchase necessary medical equipment and technology in underserved locations. That’s a big win for Alabama, a state where 55 of our 67 counties are considered rural.
Finally, our bill would allow states to apply child support obligations to the time period during pregnancy, not just after a child is born, if requested by the mother. Existing state requirements, like proof of paternity, would still apply.
This is not the first time we’ve introduced the MOMS Act. In the 118th Congress, before Republicans won the Senate, Democrats summarily dismissed our legislation, not even allowing it a vote on the floor. Things are different now, though, and we have the chance to pass a bill that will solve very real problems affecting so many Americans.
And the Republican Party — the party of parents — is ready to get it done. The MOMS Act is a step toward creating a comprehensive culture of life in our country, growing and strengthening American families, and ensuring all mothers have the opportunities and resources they need so they and their children can thrive and live their American Dreams.
The MOMS Act is endorsed by organizations like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, March for Life Action, the National Right to Life Committee, Students for Life Action, Concerned Women of America, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Human Coalition.
A Republican trifecta only comes along every so often — we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip through our fingers. This is a moment in which we can make lasting change and give women and families the help they need and deserve.
Let’s pass the MOMS Act.
U.S. Senator Katie Britt proudly represents the state of Alabama in the United States Senate, where she serves on the Committees on Appropriations; Banking, Housing, and Urban Development; and Rules and Administration.
