WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan Maintaining Our Obligation to Moms (MOMS) who Serve Act, which establishes a pilot program to assess the feasibility and impact of providing evidence-based perinatal mental health programs for pregnant and postpartum service members. The program's goal is to reduce the rates of poor mental health conditions among mothers in the military and improve the military readiness of service members. Houlahan is the Ranking Member and Bacon is the Chair of the Quality-of-Life Panel on the House Armed Services Committee, which addresses mental health and other critical issues facing military personnel, such as housing, nutrition, compensation, and more. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Deb Fischer (R-NE). 

“Having given birth to my first daughter while in the Air Force, I know first-hand how pregnancy can take a toll on a mother’s mental health and impact their ability to do their job, and for our service women, that includes protecting our national security,” said Houlahan. “We cannot expect our men and women in uniform to be ready to defend our country if we are not providing them with mental health resources, which must include perinatal and postpartum care. I look forward to seeing this pilot come to fruition to improve another aspect of our service members' quality of life.” 

“Almost one third of postpartum servicemembers or their spouses experience a maternal mental health condition which puts them at risk for suicide or drug overdoses,” said Bacon. “The Perinatal Mental Health Bill will reduce the alarming rates of postpartum mental health conditions with evidence-based treatment. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Quality of Life panel, it is important to me that we are taking care of our servicewomen and spouses.” 

This legislation is a direct result of a GAO report that Houlahan submitted to the FY21 NDAA, which exposed an alarming statistic: nationally, 1 in 5 civilian women will experience maternal mental health conditions, while for servicemembers, it occurs for 1 in 3 women. This bill would implement evidence-based models to combat what is almost double the national average. This pilot program would work to change that statistic, improve military readiness, and save lives. 

This builds on prior efforts by Houlahan in the Fiscal Year 2022 NDAA through her bill, the Military Moms Matter Act, which increases access to postpartum care in Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs), including mental health assessments, pelvic health evaluation and treatment, considerations for physical therapy, pelvic health rehabilitation services, and obstetric hemorrhage treatment. 

MOMS who Serve Act is endorsed by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance, the National Military Families Association, and the Military Officers Association of America. 

“Maternal mental health challenges are the #1 complication of all pregnancies. Our nation’s military mothers — those in uniform and military spouses — have a higher risk than the general population of experiencing a maternal mental health complication. These service members and their families deserve to be educated about and have access to maternal mental health support during and following pregnancy. This population sacrifices so much for our country. We need to do everything possible to ensure they get off to the best start as a healthy new parent,” said Jamie Zahlaway Belsito, Founder and Director of Partnerships at the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. 

Read the full text of the bill here. 

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

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