Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to advance and fund life-affirming maternal and child health interventions that— (1) equip local providers, including midwives, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and community health workers, with life-affirming training in how to prevent, recognize, and manage the leading causes of maternal and perinatal death and their complications; (2) provide medical resources, training, and emergency obstetric equipment to carry out the above skilled life-affirming management of obstetrical and perinatal complications; (3) provide education and support for health care and nutrition during the first 1,000 days of life; (4) provide education and support for fathers in their support and responsibility for the well-being of the mother and child; (5) support a continuum of life-affirming care for women and men inclusive of pre-conception health, fertility health, fertility awareness, healthy child spacing, natural family planning, safe birth and postpartum mental health; and (6) operate in full alignment with respect for life at all stages from conception to natural death and strengthening the family.