NIH IMPROVE Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/hr/6238
Last Updated: June 1, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

ID: U000040

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 0.

May 20, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another bill, another opportunity for our esteemed lawmakers to pretend they care about something other than lining their pockets and getting re-elected. Let's dissect this latest exercise in legislative theater, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The NIH IMPROVE Act aims to reduce maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity by advancing research, addressing health disparities, and implementing community-based interventions. How noble. I'm sure the sponsors of this bill, Ms. Underwood and Mr. Fitzpatrick, are just thrilled to be associated with such a worthy cause. After all, who wouldn't want to improve maternal health outcomes? It's not like they have ulterior motives, such as securing funding for their pet projects or currying favor with special interest groups.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill establishes the IMPROVE Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which will continue to carry out a program to improve maternal health outcomes. Because, you know, the NIH wasn't already doing that. The initiative has three objectives: reducing preventable causes of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, addressing health disparities, and improving health for pregnant and postpartum women. Wow, how original. It's not like these goals have been touted by every politician and healthcare organization for years.

The bill also authorizes $73.4 million in appropriations for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031. A drop in the bucket compared to the overall NIH budget, but hey, it's a start. Or is it just a token gesture to placate the masses while the real money goes towards more "pressing" issues... like lining the pockets of pharmaceutical companies and healthcare lobbyists?

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: pregnant women, new mothers, and their families. Oh, and let's not forget the NIH, which will be tasked with implementing this initiative. I'm sure they're just thrilled to have more bureaucratic red tape to navigate. And then there are the pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, and medical device manufacturers who will no doubt be lining up to secure funding and contracts for their "life-saving" products and services.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** The bill may lead to some minor improvements in maternal health outcomes, but let's not get too excited. After all, this is just a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The real issues driving maternal mortality and morbidity – poverty, lack of access to healthcare, systemic racism – won't be addressed by this bill. It's just a feel-good measure designed to make politicians look good while they ignore the root causes of these problems.

In conclusion, the NIH IMPROVE Act is a classic case of legislative lip service. It's a shallow attempt to address a complex issue, driven more by political expediency than a genuine desire to improve maternal health outcomes. But hey, at least it'll make for some great soundbites and photo ops. Now, if you'll excuse

Related Topics

Research & Innovation Policy
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$76,300
21 donors
PACs
$500
Organizations
$9,800
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000
1
EMILYS LIST
1 transaction
$500
1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
2 transactions
$3,300
2
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
2 transactions
$3,000
3
TUNICA-BILOXI TRIBE OF LA
1 transaction
$2,500
4
CHEROKEE NATION
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
WICKERS, ALONZO IV
3 transactions
$9,900
2
FREI, FRANCES X.
2 transactions
$6,600
3
SERRURIER, NANCY
2 transactions
$6,600
4
PHILLIPS, KAREN
1 transaction
$3,300
5
RICKETTS, LAURA
1 transaction
$3,300
6
VON STEIN, THOMAS
1 transaction
$3,300
7
DIBRIENZA, JENNIFER
1 transaction
$3,300
8
ZELENKA, JANET H.
1 transaction
$3,300
9
LANE, PATRICIA C.
1 transaction
$3,300
10
CARNEY, ADRIA
1 transaction
$3,300
11
COPELAND, LISA
1 transaction
$3,300
12
MIN, SARAH
1 transaction
$3,300
13
DRISCOLL, JOHN
1 transaction
$3,300
14
DILLETT, STEVE
1 transaction
$3,300
15
KIM, VIENN
1 transaction
$3,300
16
MAZIN, CRAIG
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

ID: F000466

Top Contributors

10

1
SANTA YNEZ BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Organization SANTA YNEZ, CA
$1,500
Dec 31, 2024
2
STATA FAMILY OFFICE
Organization
$500
Apr 26, 2024
3
ASHER, ROBERT B.
Individual GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA
$10,000
Oct 9, 2024
4
ASHER, ROBERT B.
ASHER CHOCOLATES CHAIRMAN
Individual GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA
$10,000
Sep 30, 2024
5
LEVY, EDWARD JR
EDW C LEVY CO CHAIRMAN
Individual BIRMINGHAM, MI
$6,600
Feb 26, 2024
6
CROTTY, THOMAS
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
7
EVANS, ROGER
GREYLOCK PARTNERS PARTNER EMERITUS
Individual SAN FRANCISCO, CA
$6,600
Feb 27, 2024
8
LEACH, RONALD
NPX ONE CHAIRMAN & CEO
Individual GENEVA, IL
$6,600
Feb 28, 2024
9
MCCLAIN, MARK
SAILPOINT CEO
Individual AUSTIN, TX
$6,600
Mar 2, 2024
10
CROTTY, THOMAS
Individual SCOTTSDALE, AZ
$6,600
Mar 8, 2024

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

ID: N000147

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

ID: M001232

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

ID: V000138

Top Contributors

10

1
LUX FOR VIRGINIA
Organization LADYSMITH, VA
$500
Mar 29, 2024
2
LUX FOR VIRGINIA
Organization LADYSMITH, VA
$500
Mar 31, 2024
3
FORSTER-BURKE, DIANE
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT
$4,000
Apr 20, 2024
4
FORSTER-BURKE, DIANE
Individual COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, UT
$4,000
May 5, 2024
5
VON STEIN, THOMSON
Individual ROCKVILLE, MD
$3,500
Aug 7, 2024
6
HULL, MEGAN
SELF ACTIVIST
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Nov 2, 2024
7
KAISER, GEORGE
GBK CORPORATION EXECUTIVE
Individual TULSA, OK
$3,300
Oct 25, 2024
8
PARSONS, KATHLEEN
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual POTOMAC, MD
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
9
STAPLE, HARISE
SELF MD
Individual LOS ALTOS, CA
$3,300
Oct 18, 2024
10
HOLMES, LAURA
SELF REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
Individual BOCA RATON, FL
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024

Donor Network - Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 31 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $93,300

Top Donors - Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Showing top 21 donors by contribution amount

1 PAC4 Orgs16 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 3 helped.

  • +Biotech & Research confidence 0.90

    Section 2(c) authorizes NIH to award grants or contracts to carry out the IMPROVE Initiative, which will fund research on maternal health. This benefits biotech firms engaged in NIH‑aligned research and development.

  • Section 2(b)(3)(A) calls for implementing and evaluating community‑based interventions for disproportionately affected women, which will likely involve hospitals and health systems as partners or recipients of funding, providing a clear benefit.

  • Improved maternal health outcomes may reduce complications requiring postpartum care, potentially decreasing demand for certain long‑term care services; however, the bill’s focus on research and community interventions could also create opportunities for home‑health providers involved in maternal‑health programs, yielding a modest benefit.

Who funds the sponsor on these industries

For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]) received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022–present cycles. Donations are not proof of intent — they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.

Industries this bill HELPS

Related Bills