Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Advances Ocasio-Cortez, Malliotakis Bill To Support Parents and Infants

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Washington, D.C.- Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)gave remarks on legislation, led alongside Representative Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11),that supports maternal and infant health programs during a markup in the Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. After discussing the bill, the subcommittee passed the bipartisan Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will now be sent to the full committee for a vote. This legislation would reauthorize the Healthy Start program through Fiscal Year 2030, which provides critical funding for community-based efforts that improve maternal and infant health.

Find Representative Ocasio-Cortez's remarks as delivered below:

"Thank you.

I'd like to thank Chairman Griffith and Ranking member DeGette for holding this legislative markup and for including our bipartisan bill, the Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025, which I lead with Representative Malliotakis.

I've talked about Healthy Start in this committee before, and I want to take this time to reiterate how essential this program is to families in my district and to families across the country.

The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths among all wealthy countries. We also have the highest rate of infant deaths compared to other high income countries. And we are the only wealthy country that does not guarantee health care as a basic human right, which often leaves women without affordable and adequate prenatal and postnatal care.

While there remains work to be done, we have made significant progress in reducing infant deaths over the past three decades. Healthy Start is a federally funded, locally driven program whose purpose is to reduce infant deaths and improve the health of babies, pregnant women and new mothers.

There are more than 115 Healthy Start programs across the country, and in all 50 states, including the Bronx Healthy Start Partnership, as well as Healthy Start partnerships in Staten Island with my co-sponsor Representative Malliotakis.

Healthy Start focuses on communities that need it most. These are communities that have the highest rates of infant mortality and may have limited or unavailable maternal care. This program has a long history of bipartisanship. It was created in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, and since then it has been reauthorized several times, always on a bipartisan basis.

In fact, the last time the program was reauthorized was during President Trump's first administration. There's a reason Healthy Start has had such strong bipartisan support. It's because it works. Women in Healthy Start receive earlier and more frequent prenatal care. Fathers are more engaged and babies are born healthier.

If we continue to reduce infant deaths and improve infant and maternal health outcomes, we need Healthy Start programs in our states and districts now more than ever. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this common sense and bipartisan bill, and I yield back.

The gentlelady yields back. Anyone else seeking recognition on the measure?

Seeing none, we will move forward to a vote. The question now occurs on forwarding H.R. 3302 to the full committee. All those in favor say aye. Aye.

All those opposed no.

The ayes have it. The bill is agreed to and forwarded to the full committee."

In New York's 14th district, the Bronx Healthy Start Partnership serves almost 500 families in the community each year - providing case management, educational activities, and connections to food, housing, and transportation assistance.

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