NEST Act

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary will make grants or enter into cooperative agreements with eligible entities to distribute to mothers of newborn infants newborn supply kits.

An eligible entity that receives a grant or enters into a cooperative agreement under subsection (a) shall agree, as a condition on receiving such a grant or entering into such an agreement, that in distributing newborn supply kits using funds received through the pilot program under this section, the entity shall—

(1) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure the geographical diversity of the recipients of such newborn supply kits;

(2) give priority to geographic areas with the greatest need, such as maternal care deserts, rural communities, and communities with the highest maternal mortality rates (such as the Delta region); and

(3) give priority to mothers of newborn infants whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a family of the size involved.

Not later than one year after the date on which the first grant or cooperative agreement is awarded under subsection (a), t he Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress of the pilot program under this section, including—

(A) the number of mothers served under the pilot program (disaggregated by race, family income level, and number of individuals in the household);

(B) the regions in the United States in which newborn supply kits are being distributed through the pilot program;

(C) feedback from mothers who have received newborn supply kits through the pilot program; and

(D) such other information, as determined necessary by the Secretary.

At the conclusion of the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report—

(A) on the results of the pilot program with respect to maternal and infant health outcomes; and

(B) that includes the Secretary’s recommendation on whether to extend or expand the pilot program.

In this section:

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives;

(B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;

(C) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

The term eligible entity means—

(A) a community-based organization;

(B) a hospital; or

(C) another organization serving mothers and infants.

The term newborn supply kit means a kit composed of essential goods to help mothers recover from childbirth and care for newborn infants that includes the following items:

(A) Diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and thermometers for newborn infants.

(B) Postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, breastfeeding supplies, information on the maternal mental health hotline, information about Federal programs providing support to postpartum women and children, such as the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children under section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786), and evidence-based educational material on the use of low-dose aspirin to address hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm birth.

(C) A blood pressure monitor.

(D) Other items necessary to support infant and postpartum health (as determined by the Secretary).

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.