Full-spectrum doula workforce

(a) In general The Secretary shall establish and implement a program to award grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities to establish or expand programs to grow and diversify the doula workforce, including through improving the capacity and supply of health care providers. (b) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant or enter into a contract under subsection (a), an entity shall be— (1) a health professions school; (2) a school of public health; (3) an academic health center; (4) a State or local government; (5) a territory; (6) an Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, urban Indian organization, or Native Hawaiian organization; (7) a community-based organization; or (8) another appropriate public or private nonprofit entity or a consortium of public or private nonprofit entities, including entities that promote multidisciplinary approaches. (c) Use of funds An eligible entity that receives a grant or enters into a contract under subsection (a) shall use the funds received pursuant to such grant or contract for 1 or more of the following activities: (1) Establishing programs that provide education and training to individuals seeking appropriate training or certification as a full-spectrum doula. (2) Expanding the capacity of existing programs that provide education and training to individuals seeking appropriate training or certification as a full-spectrum doula for the purpose of increasing the number of students enrolled in such programs, including by awarding scholarships for students who agree to work in underserved communities after receiving such education and training. (3) Developing and implementing strategies to recruit and retain students from underserved communities, particularly from demographic groups experiencing high rates of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, including racial and ethnic minority groups, into programs described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (d) Funding In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section, and there is appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, to remain available until expended.