{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-schrier-introduce-bipartisan-maternal-support-bill", "Letlow, Schrier Introduce Bipartisan Maternal Support Bill", "2025-11-18", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Julia Letlow", "L000595", "letlow.house.gov", "letlow", "https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (R-LA) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA) introduced legislation aimed at increasing critical support for new mothers and infants through the distribution of newborn supply kits.\n\nThe Newborns Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act authorizes an existing pilot program within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide items such as diapers, wipes, breastfeeding supplies, and postpartum mental health resources in areas of need. Original cosponsors include Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA).\n\n\u201cMotherhood is a tremendous blessing and the highest calling of my life. In the days and moments after giving birth, I want all moms to have the support necessary to create a nurturing environment for their child, especially in maternal health deserts and our rural communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Julia Letlow, the primary sponsor of the legislation. \u201cWe will keep working with our local hospitals and private sector partners to expand this program and provide meaningful support for mothers and their babies.\u201d\n\n\"As a mother and a pediatrician, I understand the physical, mental, and financial challenges that mothers of newborns often face during the postpartum period,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. \u201cMothers need all the support we can provide. That is why I am proud to introduce the bipartisan NEST Act that will ensure mothers have the supplies and resources they need to care for themselves and their newborns.\u201d\n\nWoman\u2019s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA has recently partnered with HHS and Baby2Baby - a non-profit specializing in providing essential supplies to families in need - to distribute these toolkits to local mothers and babies.\n\n\u201cAs a healthcare participant in the newborn supply kit program, Woman\u2019s Hospital is proud to provide new mothers in need with essential resources that support a strong start to parenthood,\u201d said Rene Ragas, President & CEO of Woman\u2019s Hospital. \u201cThese kits are game changers for our families, offering the peace of mind that comes with having supplies for those first critical days and weeks at home. The kits remove common sources of stress, allowing parents to focus on bonding with their newborn and navigating the early days of family life with confidence and care.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongresswoman Letlow\u2019s leadership in delivering vital support to new moms represents a bold and innovative step forward in addressing maternal health challenges,\u201d said E.J. Kuiper, President and CEO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System. \u201cMaternal health is the cornerstone to ensuring healthy families and healthy communities, and initiatives like this have the power to save lives. Congresswoman Letlow has been a tireless champion for mothers and families in many policy areas, and we are grateful for her continued focus on ensuring that new mothers receive the care, supplies and support they need to thrive.\"\n\n\"The introduction of the NEST Act is a crucial step forward in ensuring new parents' access to essential resources during one of life's most vulnerable moments,\u201d said Kay Matthews, Founder and Executive Director at the Shades of Blue Project. \u201cAs someone who has experienced firsthand the challenges of the perinatal period, I know how transformative it can be when families receive the right support at the right time. I'm grateful to Rep. Letlow and Rep. Schrier for their bipartisan leadership on pro-family and cost of living issues\u2014when we invest in moms and babies, we're investing in American communities, especially those who have been historically underserved.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://letlow.house.gov/media/press-releases/letlow-schrier-introduce-bipartisan-maternal-support-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.1248857267200947, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}