NIH IMPROVE Act
Download PDFSponsored 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
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No committee contributions found
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
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
Donor Network - Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
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
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.
- +Hospitals & Health Systems confidence 0.85
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.
- +Long-Term Care & Nursing Homes confidence 0.70
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
- from 1contribution
- PARODI, STEPHEN$1,000
- from 1contribution
- KENNEDY, JOHN$500
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