introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Healthy Start program, a critical federal initiative that supports community-based efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy.
Reauthorize the Healthy Start program, a federal initiative supporting community-based efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy.
Occurrences
Evidence
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee today approved 13 health care bills, including legislation that would reauthorize the AHA-supported Healthy Start program and codify Medicaid coverage for non-emergency medical transportation.
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) advocated for the passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of her sponsored bill, “the Bipartisan Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025,” which she lead alongside Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
On February 5, 2026 in the Senate: Introduced in Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
The appropriations measure provides critical funding for key maternal and child health (MCH) programs, though funding levels fall short of the investments needed to address the nation’s maternal and infant mortality crisis.
Earlier this week, Congress passed legislation to fund HHS—and that legislation, thanks to years of dedicated ob-gyn advocacy, includes several ACOG funding priorities.
The current federal government shutdown is driven by failure of the Congress to finalize this year’s federal budget appropriations or adopt a Continuing Resolution (CR).
Despite its track record, pending legislation in the House Appropriations Committee proposes to eliminate funding for Healthy Start, which has successfully served moms, babies, and families for decades.
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Healthy Start program.
The Healthy Start Reauthorization Act (S. 3799/H.R. 3302) would authorize $145 million from FY 2026 through 2030 to continue the Healthy Start under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
H.R. 3302 would reauthorize the Healthy Start Initiative through Fiscal Year 2030.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025, which reauthorizes the Healthy Start program through Fiscal Year 2030.
S. 2619, introduced in the Senate, aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the Healthy Start Initiative.
Congress passed legislation funding the Department of Health and Human Services, including several priorities related to maternal health.
The FY26 Appropriations Act provided funding for maternal and child health programs, including Healthy Start, but at levels considered insufficient to fully address maternal and infant mortality.
A federal government shutdown occurred due to Congress's failure to finalize budget appropriations, impacting programs like Healthy Start.
The House Appropriations Committee proposed legislation to eliminate funding for the Healthy Start program.
Last Action Date Listed: October 3, 2025. Action: Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce; ordered to be printed. Bill Number: H.R. 3302. Short Title: Healthy Start Reauthorization Act of 2025.
Latest Action: Senate - 02/05/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Cosponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (02/05/2026).
Assessments
Gillibrand appears to have materially supported the Healthy Start reauthorization effort by cosponsoring the Senate bill in the 119th Congress. However, the evidence shows the Senate bill was only introduced and referred to committee, while the House companion advanced or passed the House but had not become enacted law. Appropriations funding for maternal and child health/Healthy Start is partial support for the program, but it is not the promised reauthorization. Because the promised policy outcome has not yet been finally enacted, the correct status is unresolved, with effort credit for the serious legislative attempt during her current Senate term.
Multiple primary and secondary sources confirm that Congress reauthorized the Healthy Start program through legislation in 2025-2026, with both the House and Senate introducing and passing reauthorization bills. There is clear legislative action, passage in the House, and planned funding through 2030. Some funding concerns and proposed elimination attempts were present, but these did not prevent actual reauthorization. Therefore, the promise was delivered within the same term.
Multiple pieces of evidence indicate that the Healthy Start program was reauthorized through the legislative process during the same term as the campaign promise. The House passed a reauthorization bill in September 2025, and Senate action is referenced in February 2026. While some appropriations and funding levels may be considered insufficient, the core promise was to reauthorize the program, which was accomplished via legislation supported, introduced, and advanced during the relevant term. Legislative attempts and actual passage in at least one chamber, with committee action in the other, show high effort and significant fulfillment.