Ocasio-Cortez, Malliotakis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Support for New Parents and Infants

Washington, D.C. - Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Representative Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Healthy Start program, which provides critical funding for community-based efforts that improve maternal and child health.  

“Healthy Start serves countless families across the nation. In my district, The Bronx Healthy Start Partnership provides essential public health services to ensure that all babies and new parents can receive medical and non-medical support that improves their health outcomes,” said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “This bipartisan bill would ensure that Healthy Start programs across the country can continue to fill in where traditional health care falls short, working to eliminate major health disparities that leave the most vulnerable communities wounded.” 

“Over the past two years, this program has delivered more than $2 million to my district to support women, infants, and families in low-income communities,” said Representative Nicole Malliotakis. “Our bipartisan legislation will continue the authorization of the Healthy Start program, which aims to improve health outcomes for new mothers and reduce infant mortality rates and other adverse perinatal outcomes nationwide.”

The full bill text is available here. The legislation will go through the Energy and Commerce Committee, where Representative Ocasio-Cortez now serves. 

The Healthy Start program invests in communities across the country to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. The Bronx Healthy Start Partnership provides case management, educational activities, and other support services to more than 475 families in the Bronx community each year. 

Local Healthy Start projects are community-driven and tailored to the specific needs of each community to help reduce disparities in infant mortality and maternal health outcomes, so that all new parents and their babies can be healthy. These projects work to enroll pregnant women, other women of reproductive age, new parents, children from birth to 18 months, and fathers/partners. This bill would authorize $145 million in critical funding for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030.

Healthy Start program funding goes to communities experiencing high rates of adverse health outcomes, including infant mortality rates that are at least 1.5 times the U.S. national average, or high rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal illness. 

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