Sen. Ossoff Working Across the Aisle to Improve Maternal Health in Georgia

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is working across the aisle to improve maternal health in Georgia.

Sen. Ossoff is cosponsoring the NIH Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Act to provide funding for the National Institutes of Health's IMPROVE Initiative, which conducts research to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.

The NIH IMPROVE Act, introduced by Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would authorize $73.4 million annually for the NIH IMPROVE initiative for seven years and would ensure consistent resources for ongoing research to reduce preventable causes of maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

"The shockingly high maternal mortality rate for women in Georgia is a travesty. It is unacceptable for any mother to suffer or die because she lacks proper care," Sen. Ossoff said. "I am working to pass this bipartisan bill to reduce maternal deaths and improve health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy."

Sen. Ossoff continues working to support the health and safety of Georgia mothers and children.

In April, Sen. Ossoff cosponsored the Social Determinants for Moms Act to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce the maternal mortality rate in Georgia and across the country.

Last summer, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Ossoff worked across the aisle to secure key provisions in the U.S. Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services and Education funding bill, including restoring staffing for Safe Motherhood and Infant Health programs; increasing funding for implementation of the Kira Johnson Act, which provides funding for community-based organizations working to advance maternal health; and restoring NIH's participation in the Safe to Sleep campaign.

In May 2025, Sen. Ossoff released findings from his investigation into the impacts of Georgia's 6-week abortion ban, in which Georgia OBGYNs revealed they had personally encountered cases in which Georgia's six-week abortion ban contributed to a health complication or death of the mother.

Last March, Sen. Ossoff and other members of Congress demanded the Trump Administration provide answers on the reported shutdown of a critical Maternal Health data system at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Last February, Sen. Ossoff introduced an amendment to protect children's and maternal health care through Medicaid that Senate Republicans blocked.

Also in 2024, as Chair of the Senate Human Rights Subcommittee, Sen. Ossoff convened two public hearings at which Georgia women and Georgia OBGYNs testified to the harmful impacts of Georgia's abortion ban.

Click here to read the NIH IMPROVE Act.

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