Commission on Rural Maternal Health

(a) Establishment There is established a commission to be known as the Commission on Rural Maternal Health (referred to in this section as the Commission). (b) Duties (1) Study The Commission shall conduct a study on issues impacting rural maternal health, including— (A) access to and availability of maternal healthcare providers in rural areas, including the prevalence and impact of maternity care deserts; (B) impediments to access to appropriate maternal care services in rural areas; (C) factors that contribute to maternal mortality, pregnancy-related mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and adverse maternal health outcomes across the full continuum of care, including the prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum periods; (D) disparities in maternal health outcomes among rural populations; and (E) solutions, best practices, and evidence-based interventions, including State programs and community-based education and outreach efforts, to reduce maternal mortality and maternal morbidity rates in rural areas. (2) Report Not later than September 30, 2031, the Commission shall submit to the President, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the study required by paragraph (1), including such recommendations as the Commission considers appropriate. (c) Membership (1) In general The Commission shall be composed of 10 members, as follows: (A) 3 members appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. (B) 3 members appointed by the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives. (C) 2 members appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. (D) 2 members appointed by the Ranking Member of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives. (2) Date of appointments All members of the Commission shall be appointed not more than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Term; vacancies (A) Term A member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. (B) Vacancies A vacancy on the Commission— (i) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. (4) Co-chairs The Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives shall appoint 2 of the members of the Commission to serve as Co-Chairs. (d) Meetings (1) Initial meeting Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission. (2) Quorum A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number of members may hold hearings. (e) Information from Federal agencies The Commission may secure directly from a Federal agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out this section. (f) Termination The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which the Commission submits the report under subsection (b)(2).