Expressing support for the recognition of September 26, 2026, as "World Contraception Day" and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding global and domestic access to contraception.

The House of Representatives is expressing support for recognizing September 26, 2026, as "World Contraception Day." This day aims to raise awareness about contraception and reproductive health options available to people worldwide.

The resolution reflects the House's broader position that access to contraception is an important issue both globally and within the United States. By establishing this observance, lawmakers are emphasizing the significance of contraceptive access in public health and individual reproductive rights.

World Contraception Day serves as an opportunity to educate people about contraceptive methods, promote informed decision-making about family planning, and highlight disparities in contraceptive access around the world and domestically.

CARE for Moms Act Community Access, Resources, and Empowerment for Moms Act

Overview: The CARE for Moms Act is a bill introduced in the Senate aimed at improving federal efforts to prevent maternal mortality in the United States. The bill highlights the serious problem of pregnancy-related deaths and complications affecting American women.

The Problem: The United States has a rising maternal mortality rate that is higher than other wealthy nations. In 2021, there were approximately 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Each year, more than 1,000 American women die from pregnancy-related complications, and about 70,000 women experience life-threatening complications. Importantly, experts estimate that over 80 percent of these deaths are preventable.

Disparities: Maternal mortality affects different groups unequally. Black women face maternal death rates nearly three times higher than White women. The risk also increases significantly with age, with women over 40 being nearly 7 times more likely to die than women under 25. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the crisis by limiting access to prenatal and postpartum care and contributed to about 25 percent of maternal deaths in 2020 and 2021.

Medical Causes: Common preventable causes of maternal death include hemorrhage, heart conditions, infections, blood clots, mental health issues, high blood pressure complications, and stroke. Many of these conditions can be managed or prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment.

Affordability is Access Act of 2026

Bill Overview: The "Affordability is Access Act of 2026" is a proposed law that would require health insurance plans to cover over-the-counter contraceptives without charging patients any cost-sharing fees. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in September 2026 by representatives from both parties.

Purpose and Goals: The legislation aims to make birth control more accessible and affordable by ensuring that contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter use are fully covered by insurance. The bill recognizes that birth control is essential health care used by most women and many transgender and nonbinary people at some point in their lives.

Key Findings: Congress notes that while the Affordable Care Act previously required birth control coverage, significant gaps remain. Currently, 25 percent of people who want to use contraceptives are not using their preferred method due to cost barriers. The bill emphasizes that access to birth control is particularly difficult for low-income individuals, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others facing systemic discrimination and economic hardship.

Congressional Intent: The bill expresses that oral birth control must be both easy to obtain and affordable to truly increase access. It also calls on pharmaceutical companies to seek FDA approval for over-the-counter birth control pills and urges the FDA to promptly approve such products if they meet safety and effectiveness standards.

Mothers and Newborns Success Act

Bill Purpose: The Mothers and Newborns Success Act aims to amend federal health law to improve maternal health and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States.

The Problem: The United States has significantly higher maternal and infant mortality rates compared to other developed nations. In 2024, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to the international average of 10.3. The infant mortality rate was 5.52 per 1,000 live births versus 4.0 internationally. These rates are preventable and reflect serious health system failures.

Severe Racial Inequities: The bill highlights stark racial disparities in maternal health outcomes. Black women face a maternal mortality rate nearly 3.2 times higher than white women, and American Indian/Alaska Native women face rates nearly 4 times higher. Black and Native American infants also have significantly higher mortality rates than white and Hispanic infants, indicating systemic racism and bias in healthcare.

Senate Goals: The Senate calls for reducing U.S. maternal and infant mortality rates to match international averages within five years, ensuring safe pregnancy outcomes regardless of income, race, or location, and addressing racial inequities through evidence-based programs. The bill specifically authorizes grants to states through the State Maternal Health Innovation Program to implement improvements targeting these disparities.

Requires notification of possible complications of abortion-inducing drugs and right to sue for injury; establishes crime of criminal abortion by fraud.

Overview: This proposed New Jersey law, called the "Abortion Pill Provider Liability Education" (APPLE) Act, would establish new requirements and restrictions related to abortion-inducing drugs. The bill aims to require providers to inform patients about potential complications and would allow patients to sue for injuries. It would also create a new crime called "criminal abortion by fraud."

Key Requirements: The law would require anyone providing abortion-inducing drugs to notify patients about possible complications before treatment. Complications are broadly defined to include medical issues like infection, hemorrhage, and incomplete abortion, as well as psychological trauma. Patients who experience injuries would have the right to file lawsuits against providers.

Criminal Provisions: The bill establishes definitions and legal standards around abortion-inducing drugs and creates criminal liability for providers who attempt to perform or induce abortions, including through telehealth or online services. The law would apply to any person or entity providing these drugs, whether or not they are licensed by the state.

Public health: abortion services.

Overview of AB 2531

Assembly Bill 2531 makes technical updates to California's law regarding a state website that provides information about abortion services. The bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to maintain and improve this existing website to ensure the public has accurate and comprehensive information about accessing abortion services in the state.

What Information the Website Must Include

The website must provide California residents with details about their legal rights to abortion, locations of abortion providers, and practical support services such as help with airfare, lodging, childcare, and translation. It must also include information about payment options and financial assistance programs, descriptions of available abortion methods, and medically accurate information to counter misinformation. The website must be mobile-friendly and accessible to people with disabilities.

Requirements for Accuracy and Accessibility

The agency must consult with experts including the Department of Justice and patient advocacy organizations to ensure the information is accurate and helpful. The website must be updated at least every six months and must be available in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean. Importantly, the website must protect the privacy of individual abortion providers by not listing their names or specific locations.

Momnibus Act

This bill aims to address serious health problems that affect pregnant women and new mothers in the United States. It focuses on three main goals: preventing deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, reducing severe health complications for mothers, and closing gaps in maternal health care that affect different communities unequally.

The legislation recognizes that maternal mortality and severe complications are significant public health concerns in America. By creating measures to improve maternal health care and address inequalities, the bill seeks to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries for all women, particularly those in underserved or disadvantaged communities who often face worse health outcomes.

Family Building FEHB Fairness Act Veteran Families Health Services Act Protect IVF Act Access to Fertility Treatment and Care Act

This topic focuses on efforts to protect and expand access to assisted reproductive technology across the United States. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) refers to medical procedures that help people conceive, with in vitro fertilization (IVF) being one of the most common methods. IVF involves combining sperm and eggs in a laboratory to create embryos, which are then transferred into the uterus.

The main goal is to ensure that more Americans can access these fertility treatments, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. Currently, access to ART can vary significantly by location and affordability remains a barrier for many people seeking to start or expand their families. Advocates want to remove these obstacles through policy changes, insurance coverage improvements, and increased funding.

Protecting nationwide access means working to maintain existing programs and services while also expanding them to reach more people who need fertility assistance. This includes supporting research, removing legal barriers, and making treatments more affordable and widely available across all states.

NIH IMPROVE Act NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone Act

Purpose: The NIH IMPROVE Act establishes a new initiative within the National Institutes of Health focused on improving maternal health outcomes and reducing maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in the United States.

Main Objectives: The IMPROVE Initiative aims to advance research that reduces preventable causes of maternal death and serious complications, particularly among populations experiencing disproportionately high rates. It will study the biological, behavioral, and other factors affecting maternal health, and implement community-based interventions targeting women in high-risk regions.

Funding and Implementation: The Director of NIH is authorized to award grants and enter into contracts to carry out the initiative. The bill authorizes $73.4 million in funding annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

Requires health benefits coverage of assisted reproductive technology to prevent transmission of monogenic disorder.

Overview: This New Jersey legislative bill requires health insurance plans to cover assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments, including procedures to prevent the transmission of serious genetic disorders to offspring.

Coverage Requirements: Insurance contracts must cover medically necessary infertility treatments as determined by a physician, following American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines. Coverage includes diagnosis, medications, surgery, in vitro fertilization (IVF), genetic testing, and up to four egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers. The costs of egg and sperm donors are also covered. Insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on age or relationship status, and the coverage applies equally to same-sex couples and single individuals.

Expanded Definition of Infertility: The bill expands the definition of infertility to include cases where individuals are carriers of serious genetic disorders and need ART to prevent passing those conditions to their children. This represents a significant addition to traditional infertility coverage, addressing reproductive needs beyond the inability to conceive.

Standard Terms: The same copayments, deductibles, and benefit limits that apply to other medical procedures apply to infertility treatment. Religious employers may request exemptions from these coverage requirements under certain circumstances.